Saturday, June 29, 2013

Zwingli on the Nature of Justification

Zwingli wrote on justification by faith alone,
A second kind of freedom from the Law is that the Law cannot condemn any more, which yet before wrought the wrath and indignation and just vengeance of God, Rom. 4:15 and Gal. 3:10; and Deut. 27:26, where divine justice sternly thunders: ‘Cursed is everyone who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ Christ, therefore ‘redeemed us from this curse of the law, being made a curse for us,’ that is, being nailed to the cross for us, Gal. 3:13 and Rom. 6:10. We are no longer under the Law but under grace; and if under grace, the Law cannot condemn us, for if the Law still has the power to condemn, we are not under grace. It is, therefore, Christ who has broken the wrath of the Law (that is, who has appeased God’s justice, which would have caused Him deservedly to rage against us), and who by bearing the cruelty of the cross for us has so softened it that He has chosen to make us not only free instead of slaves, but even sons...We are freed from the vengeance of the Law; for Christ has paid by His suffering that penalty which we owed for our sins. Indeed, we have been so completely freed from sin, as far as it is a disease, that it is no longer able to harm us if we trust in Christ. For ‘there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh’ (Rom. 8:1) (Huldrych Zwingli, Commentary On True and False Religion (Durham: Labyrinth, 1981), pp. 141–142).

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Real Peace of Jesus our Bodily Risen Savior: A 4-Point Sermon Study on Jn 14:27, Pt 1

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (Jn 14:27 NASB).

1.  The affectionate Christ spoke these divine words before His betrayal.  This very betrayal would bring about the holy peace of God's people alone through the eternal shed blood of Jesus Christ at His Cross.  He knew well that He would be crucified the next day.  He knew all that would take place to see to it that His people would be redeemed through the precious blood of the divine Lamb of God.  The discourse began after He partook of the passover.  He instituted and established the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  Judas Iscariot went out to betray Him and only His faithfully true disciples were left.  Jesus faithful disciples were the only ones left and He addresses them as true disciples.  This is the last discourse Jesus had with His people before His blessed and atoning death.  We see His coming dying discourse where He takes upon Himself the absolute sin and damnation of God's people.  He dies for them in their place.  The resurrection verifies that Jesus' atonement is authentic.  Therefore Christians really have true peace.  I suggest to you that true peace is only through Jesus Christ our great Savior and divine King.

2.  It is evident that this discourse is a profound statement of divine love, especially to beloved John whose heart was complete with love for the Savior.  I think beloved John is a picture of every believer's love for Jesus and Jesus' love for us in Christ.  Jesus said in this discourse that He was going away.  Jesus' disciples were filled with heaviness and sorrow.  Jesus provides them with comfort and relief of their sorrow.   He says they will have peace when He is gone.  The peace of the world is not the peace of Jesus and the peace of Jesus is not the peace of the world.  There is a strange and foreign "peace" and "comfort" of the damned and this is not the peace and comfort of Jesus.  It is a stranger to the Bible's peace through Jesus our Lord.  For Spurgeon says,  "The little world within us, like the great world without, is full of confusion and strife; but when Jesus enters it, and whispers “Peace be unto you,” there is a calm, yea, a rapture of bliss."

3.  Jesus leaves His disciples in divine peace. Waves of tribulation approach the mind of Jesus' peace and all is calm because of His all-sustaining grace.  Jesus says, "peace I leave with you."  Jesus gives that which is His own; Jesus provides His sheep with divine peace.  He bestowed heavenly peace on His blessed children.  Many seek peace in all the wrong places.  There is no peace with God in man-made religion or tradition.  Peace is only something that Jesus provides in His person and work.  Touching His human presence, Jesus had to leave this accursed world.  Touching His divine presence, He is never apart from us and He is always with us.  He is especially with us in spiritual fellowship in partaking of communion.  Jesus had no earthly wealth but what He had He gave to them; He gave His very heart of peace to them in His humiliation.  He lived for our peace; He died for our peace; He intercedes for our peace.  There is no peace like the peace of Jesus Christ.  Dr. MacArthur wrote, "He offers peace from God (Romans 1:7) to all who are the recipients of His grace. He makes peace with God (Romans 5:1) for those who surrender to Him in faith. And He brings the peace of God (Philippians 4:7) to those who walk with Him.  (God With Us, Zondervan, 1989, p. 22).

4.   Jesus provides His sheep with the joy of peace.  He enjoyed the same joy and peace that He gives to His people.  I remember when I was miserable in man-centered religion and I had no true peace or joy.  I suggest to you that the divine peace of Jesus Christ is through the perfect peace of His sinless life and the perfect peace of His sinless death through the spiritual application of God's Spirit and Word in Jesus' imputed merit alone by faith alone.  He spoke that their joy may be full in themselves.  He gave them His peace that He had before His death.  Jesus suffered so greatly but He possessed the peace of God.  He is able to see us live with this peace as He Himself did as He endured His Cross.  Though men sought to destroy the living Savior, Calvin said, "the Cross was more powerful to save, than Adam's sin was to destroy."  (Ref: J. Edwards, Sermon XII, "The Peace Which Christ Gives His True Followers").  

Fierce was the wild billow,
Dark was the night;
Oars labored heavily,
Foam glimmered white;
Trembled the mariners,
Peril was nigh:
Then said the God of God,
"Peace! it is I."

Ridge of the mountain-wave,
Lower thy crest!
Wail of Euroclydon,
Be thou at rest!
Sorrow can never be,
Darkness must fly,
Where saith the Light of Light,
"Peace! it is I."

Jesus, Deliverer,
Come thou to me;
Soothe thou my voyaging
Over life's sea:
Thou, when the storm of death
Roars, sweeping by,
Whisper, O Truth of Truth,
"Peace! it is I."

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

On Saving Faith and Repentance

Louis Berkhof wrote,
True saving faith is a faith that has its seat in the heart and is rooted in the regenerate life...In speaking of the different elements of faith we should not lose sight of the fact that faith is an activity of man as a whole, and not any part of man...In order to obtain a proper conception of faith, it is necessary to distinguish between the various elements which it comprises.

A) An intellectual element (notitia). There is an element of knowledge in faith...The knowledge of faith consists in a positive recognition of the truth, in which man accepts as true whatsoever God says in His word, and especially what He says respecting the deep depravity of man and the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Over against Rome the position must be maintained that this sure knowledge belongs to the essence of faith; and in opposition to such theologians as Sandeman, Wardlaw, Alexander, Chalmers, and others, that a mere intellectual acceptance of the truth is not the whole of faith.
B) An emotional element (assensus). When one embraces Christ by faith, he has a deep conviction of the truth and reality of the object of faith, feels that it meets an important need in his life, and is conscious of an absorbing interest in it – and this is assent.
C) A volitional element (fiducia). This is the crowning element of faith. Faith is not merely a matter of the intellect, nor of the intellect and the emotions combined; it is also a matter of the will, determining the direction of the soul, an act of the soul going out towards its object and appropriating this. Without this activity the object of faith, which the sinner recognizes as true and real and entirely applicable to his present needs, remains outside of him. And in saving faith it is a matter of life and death that the object be appropriated. This third element consists in a personal trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord, including the surrender of the soul as guilty and defiled to Christ, and a recognition and appropriation of Christ as the source of pardon and of spiritual life (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1939), pp. 503-505).
Jonathan Edwards wrote,
The apostasy of man summarily consists in departing from the true God, to idols; forsaking his Creator, and setting up other things in his room. When God at first created man, he was united to his Creator; the God that made him was his God. The true God was the object of his highest respect, and had the possession of his heart. Love to God was the principle in his heart, that ruled over all other principles; and everything in the soul was wholly in subjection to it. But when man fell, he departed from the true God, and the union that was between his heart and his Creator was broken: he wholly lost his principle of love to God. And henceforth man clave to other gods. He gave that respect to the creature, which is due to the Creator. When God ceased to be the object of his supreme love and respect, other things of course became the objects of it.The gods which a natural man worships, instead of the God that made him, are himself and the world. He has withdrawn his esteem and honour from God, and proudly exalts himself. As Satan was not willing to be in subjection; and therefore rebelled, and set up himself; so a natural man, in the proud and high thoughts he has of himself, sets up himself upon God’s throne. He gives his heart to the world, worldly riches, worldly pleasures, and worldly honours: they have the possession of that regard which is due to God (Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Edinburgh: Banner, 1974), Volume 2, Men Naturally Are God’s Enemies, Sect. III, pp. 132-133).

Monday, June 24, 2013

Sinclair B. Ferguson on the Fear of God

Sinclair B. Ferguson author of Grow in Grace pg. 32 wrote, 
[The fear of God] is the result of discovering that the God whom we thought of with slavish, servile fear, the holy righteous, terrifying God of judgment and majesty, is also the God who forgives us through Jesus Christ… One reason why we know so little of such filial fear is that we do not appreciate the gospel! If we would grow in grace so that we fear God like this, we must first return to the gospel, and to the meaning of the cross.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

John Calvin on the Crime of Abortion

John Calvin wrote on a commentary on Exodus 21:22, 
The fetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being and it is a monstrous crime to rob it of the life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Martin Luther on the Free Mercy of God

The Bible speaks of the free mercy of God in Jesus' unified righteousness by faith: 
"At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates" (Preface to Luther’s Latin Writings).

Friday, June 21, 2013

The God Who Sinners Hate: A Biblical Prayer of Spiritual Help

The Bible says that by nature we hate God and we despise Christ.  How have you come before a holy God?  Have you come in the personal effort of your own heart?  Here is prayer that is surely "set apart" and different in the way people come to Christ nowadays.  You would rarely here this kind of biblical prayer on a televangelist program.  For it is biblical to say to God:
Dear God, whom I hate with all my being precisely because you hate and threaten me with hell, I hate this punishment perhaps even more than I hate you. Or, maybe I should say that I love my comfort even more than I hate you. For that reason I am asking a favor of you. I want you to make me love you, whom I hate even when I ask this and even more because I have to ask this. I am being frank with you because I know it is no use to be otherwise. You know even better than I how much I hate you and that I love only myself. It is no use for me to pretend to be sincere. I most certainly do not love you and do not want to love you. I hate the thought of loving you but that is what I'm asking because I love myself. If you can answer this 'prayer' I guess the gift of gratitude will come with it and then I will be able to do what I would not think of doing now—thank you for making me love you whom I hate. Amen.   (John H. Gerstner. The Rational Biblical Theology of Jonathan Edwards, Volume III, (Virginia: Berea Publications, 1993), p. 81).

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Necessity of Continual Repentance, Pt 4

We ought to spiritually comprehend that repentance is not a meritorious work.  The sinful nature wants to merit heaven because it wants to contribute something to the alone redemptive work of Jesus.  Sinners in different religions seek to earn heaven in some way.  Rather the Bible is God-centered. 

It is like the Jewish people who wanted to add circumcision to the Cross.  Adding something to the Cross is spiritually destructive.  Sinners cannot add anything to the redemptive suffering of the Cross.  The Cross sufficiently deals with all our actual transgressions.  We ought to completely break from our sinful nature and rejoice at the work of Jesus at His Cross. 

Do not manage your sin but repent of it.  If you delay repentance it will be sorely difficult.  I suggest to you that you do not hinder your repentance through delay.  The Bible teaches that delayed obedience is disobedience.  Do not put off repentance for any time, because it is life-long.

No one who repents through a false purification will ever gain heaven.  Sinners ought to never repent through words or practice by redemptive suffering in purgatory.  Rather sinners should repent through Christ crucified alone.  Jesus commanded people to repent of their sins.  The only sinners who repent are sinners that have their hearts opened by the power of the Spirit of God and the power of the Word of God. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Necessity of Continual Repentance, Pt 3

We ought to be people of God who seek a "clean slate."  Is your Christian life clean from sin?  That is, do you actively engage in faithful and continual repentance against your great sin?  We see in the Book of Acts that converted people brought their occultic literature and books and burned them.  Total repentance is totally breaking from sin.  To repent we must agree with God that sin is wrongdoing.  How do we know what the thoughts of God are?  Look and search His matchless written Word!  We ought to have godly sorrow over our sin.  This can only come from the Spirit and the Word working in our hearts and minds. 

They openly confessed their sins to the local church.  The heathen broke the satanic power of their magic spells through contrite confession of sin through the crucified Savior.   It was a widespread practice of the occult in Ephesus.  Nothing should stop sincere Christians from complete repentance.  The cost of burning the books according to total repentance was over four million dollars in our understanding in these days.   Nothing should stop us from utter repentance even if there is a cost to ourselves.  The Ephesians did not keep the books to sell them but burned them instead in accord with complete repentance.  It was a repentance unto obedience.  Do you repent and bear fruits of repentance?  The Valley of Vision says,
Lord Jesus, I sin. Grant that I may never cease grieving because of it, never be content with myself, never think I can reach a point of perfection. Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self. Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable, to live for Thee and not for self, to copy Thy words, acts, spirit, to be transformed into Thy likeness, to be consecrated wholly to Thee, to live entirely to Thy glory.
 
Deliver me from attachment to things unclean, from wrong associations, from the predominance of evil passions, from the sugar of sin as well as its gap; that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching I may come to Thee, cast myself on Thee, trust in Thee, cry to Thee, be delivered by Thee.
 
O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that all things are shadows, but Thou art substance, all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain, all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor, all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.
 
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it, but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that nothing be lost. If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace take away my mourning and give me music; remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty; still my sighs and fill my mouth with song, then give me summer weather as a Christian.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Necessity of Continual Repentance, Pt 2

We ought to repetitiously and continually repent of every sin.  If a sin happens, we ought to repent.  If we wait it is delayed obedience and that is sin also.   We should not wait until the end of the day to ask for forgiveness.  It is inconsistent with particular sin to only generally repent.  I am not saying that general repentance is entirely bad.  General repentance has its place when we first trusted Christ.  We ask for forgiveness for past, present and future sin.  I suggest to you that this is acceptable in the sight of God.  After we first trusted Christ we ought to begin repentance for sin on the spot.  That is, if you sin you ought to immediately repent.  The Spirit of God through His Word will probe your heart.  He will awaken you to specific and particular sin.  This is through the Spirit dominating our sinful minds and hearts.  If sin is revealed we ought to confessed it.  For example, suppose you steal something.  You ought to immediately repent of that sin and bear fruits of repentance.  You ought to possess a zealous repentance.  That is, fruits of repentance are redeeming the time.  It means repentance and obedience.  We do not have license to sin because Jesus died for us as actual transgressors.  There is no doubt that God always forgives His people.  God's people have His Holy Spirit.  He lives in our hearts.  Matter of fact the Triune God lives in us.  We ought to confess, repent and grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.  We ought to walk in the same manner that Christ walked.  We ought not to let a sin be left behind.  We should repent of every sin to be obedient to Jesus in His call for us to repent.  There is no sin that God will not forgive.  There is no limit upon the efficacious Cross.  Probably the greatest degree of sin is the belief of godhood or satanic blasphemy.  If you come to the Man of Galilee in contrite repentance through His divine Cross, He will forgive you!  Nothing is impossible with God.  Do not rely on mere men for forgiveness.  Rely on Jesus to forgive you.

Confession of sin is impossible for the reprobate.  I am not saying that mere men do not ask for pardon to their "god" but it is not the God of the Bible.  Non-biblical repentance is from the sinful nature.  Strange gods do not forgive sin like Jesus.  You must engage in complete repentance towards God through His Cross.  The Cross is the only way to be forgiven.  You must understand that you are in total need for God's Cross.  It is the only spiritual remedy for remission of sins.  You must have a volitional desire to repent of your sin and turn from your sin.  It is Scripturally acceptable to confess sin to a brother or sister in Christ.  However, do not confess sin to someone who has trouble with gossip.  Sin should be a confidential matter among the people of God.  If your brother or sister in Christ has wronged you, do not take him or her to the civil court where the ungodly preside.  Rather ask God to soften your heart to forgive him or her of whatever they have done.  I remember when I was taken advantaged of by godly people who went astray.  The only proper response is forgiveness because of their repentance.  If repentance through His shed blood does not end the matter, I submit to you that there is nothing that ever will.  We are called to have it end the matter when someone repents through the Savior.   Who are we to hold a grudge when Christ shed His blood for them?  If you want justice, you are not thinking correctly.  Justice was served at the Cross of Jesus alone.  All you need to do is forgive your brother or sister!  Rely on the Cross of Jesus for all of God's people.  However, not every sin is confessed to a brother or sister in Christ but the Cross is the only hope.  Repentance devoid of the Cross saves no one, but repentance through the Cross is for all the believing ones.  The Bible calls all God's children to express their godly sorrow over sin.  We do not need to know everything about a believer's particular past.  All we need to know is: do you engage in continual repentance for your sin and have you trusted Christ?  If we have trusted Christ all things are new.  All things are right.  If God is happy with us so should you.  How do you know if God is happy with us?  You know because of the written Word.  It says to confess sin and repent.  If a believer does that why do you still hold the past against your brother or sister?  The Cross is the solution to every sinner's past.  "Repent through the Cross."  Amen.

Monday, June 17, 2013

The Necessity of Continual Repentance, Pt 1

The Bible speaks of continuous repentance in progressive sanctification.  Repentance ought to be a repetitive action by God's Spirit and Word in our new changed hearts.  We ought to become aware of our sin through the preaching of God's Word and the spiritual awareness of God's Spirit. We ought to confess our sins to God for forgiveness and to each other for spiritual healing.  No one has the divine authority to forgive sin except the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We ought to clearly confess and acknowledge and forsake our sins to God through His Son's Cross under the influence of God's Spirit.

Confession in the early church was before a congregation.  It included public confession.  Sin was seen as something that damaged the unity of the body of Christ.  People fasted and prayed and confessed.  People were stopped from receiving the Lord's Supper.  There needed to be evidence of a changed heart.  The Bible says that the Ephesian Christians openly confessed their sins.  There was clear evidence of a changed heart.  They were not considered about embarrassment but a changed heart.   The Bible says in James 5:16 to confess one's sins to another to be healed.  This verse has been badly abused by the Orthodox and Roman Catholic leadership where they claim to have the spiritual power of absolution.  No mere man has the spiritual authority or power to forgive sin but God alone.

Sinners ought to disclose their wicked practices to the believing public for healing.  That is, the local church should pray for a changed heart to God but should not damn the confessing sinner to hell.   Some in the Book of Acts were engaged in occultic practices.  We see non-Christians involved in it today.  Like the new Christians in the Book of Acts they should discard their secret magic practices.  Confession resulted in a desire not to continue with their sins.  Repentance should not only be a statement like "Forgive me Lord" but a fervent desire to lead a life of righteousness.  If we fail, we up to get right back up again and repent unto obedience.  To die to sin in a practical way in daily life through the mortification of the sinful flesh by yielding to repentance unto life.  We ought to render our sinful natures useless and seek to live to Jesus Christ. 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Islam Teaches That the Nature of Man is Good: What Does the Bible Say?

Islam no doubt teaches that man is good by nature, but what does the Bible say about the nature of man?  Is man good by nature?  Or, is man radically corrupt or totally depraved by nature?  For the Bible says in Psalm 53:
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Romans 3 says about the nature of man:
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Friday, June 14, 2013

C.H. Spurgeon and George Whitfield on Authentic Repentance

Spurgeon wrote,
True repentance has a distinct and constant reference to the Lord, Jesus Christ. If you repent of sin without looking to Christ, away with your repentance! If you are so lamenting your sin as to forget the Savior, you have need to begin all this work over again. Whenever we repent of sin we must have one eye upon sin and another upon the Cross. Or, better still, let us have both eyes upon Christ, seeing our sin punished in Him and by no means let us look at sin except as we look at Jesus. A man may hate sin just as a murderer hates the gallows – but this does not prove repentance. If I hate sin because of the punishment, I have not repented of sin – I merely regret that God is just. But if I can see sin as an offense against Jesus Christ and loathe myself because I have wounded Him, then I have a true brokenness of heart. If I see the Savior and believe that those thorns upon His head were plaited by my sinful words; If I believe that those wounds in His heart were pierced by my heart sins; If I believe that those wounds in His feet were made by my wandering steps and that the wounds in His hands were made by my sinful deeds – then I repent of sin after a right fashion. Only under the Cross can you repent. Repentance elsewhere is remorse which clings to the sin and only dreads the punishment. Let us then seek, under God, to have a hatred of sin caused by a sight of Christ’s love.
Whitefield wrote,
Every man, by his own natural will, hates God; but when he is turned to the Lord, by evangelical repentance, then his will is changed; then his conscience, now hardened and benumbed, shall be quickened and awakened; then his hard hearts shall be melted, and his unruly affections shall be crucified. Thus, by that repentance, the whole soul will be changed, and he will have new inclinations, new desires, and new habits.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

St. John Chrysostom on the Completeness of Divine Scripture

We are called to depend on the divine Word.  Chrysostom knew well the divine authority of the written Scriptures.  The divine Word equipped a Christian for every good work.  It is referring to the all-sufficiency of the divine Word.  It also refers to the completeness of the Scriptures.  That is, we do not need to add something to it.  We do not need to add the wisdom of men to the divine Word.  For the divine wisdom of Scripture is thoroughly enough to equip a Christian for every kind of godly work.  The ancient Jews added "graven images" to the divine Word.  We must not forfeit the sacred Scriptures.  They are the very oracles of God and the faithful and true judgments of God.  No early church father is equal or above to Scripture.  If a great teacher conflicts with Scripture because of spiritual blindness regarding the nature of man, we must wholly cling to the divine Word alone apart from man-made tradition.  For John Chrysostom wrote:
"This is why the exhortation of the Scripture is given: that the man of God may be rendered complete by it.  Without this he cannot grow to maturity.  You have the Scriptures, he says, in place of me.  If you would learn anything, you may learn it from them."  (Gorday and Oben, ACCOS, NT IX, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, pg. 269).
The divine Word teaches us the central and supreme message of spiritual salvation.  That is, the nature of justification is by faith alone through Christ alone.  A Christian is someone who is a saint of God that possesses the very imputed merit of Jesus Christ as the sole grounds for how they are right with God.  We learn this from the divine Scriptures as the only declaration of salvation among the sons and daughters of Adam (cf.  Romans 4).

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Christian and Sexual Abominations: Repent and Walk Worthy of the Gospel

There is a crisis in the Christian church regarding pornography.  It his grabbed the Christian pastor by the throat and it has caused many to fall into the pig pen of sexual evil.  Pornography is sexual evil.  I think it starts with a lustful desire to embrace sexual activity.  We ought to "lust" after divine righteousness through Jesus Christ.  He alone has the divine purity to declare us right before God.  Every Christian must stand on the solid ground of Christ alone in the spiritual battle of pornography.  There are different types of pornography because there is different kinds of sexual activity in this dark and sinful world.  The Christian has no business in the neighborhood of pornography.  You might need help and get Internet blockers for your computer if you must use the Internet.  The Internet is a excellent instrument to reach this lost world.  Probably at some point in everyone's life someone has looked at sexual images.  That is, we have a corrupt nature and it wants to be fed with evil lust.  We must remember the fruits of the Spirit.  We must remember love and self-control, but if for some reason we fail we must repent according to the command of the gospel of Christ.  The Old Testament refers to pornographic images that caused rebellious and abominable iniquity:
Ezekiel 16:17 NASB
You also took your beautiful jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. 
Ezekiel 23:14 NASB
So she increased her harlotries. And she saw men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion
We see that viewing "male images" is disobedient harlotry according to the divine revelation.  We also see that other sorts of "images" on walls was also abominable harlotry.  I suggest to you that sexual lust is sexual evil.  Any sexual activity outside the heterosexual marriage bed is defiled idolatry and adulterous fornications.  It is wicked and wretched sin that stains the minds inner consciousness.  It pollutes the very mental network and framework of the purity of thought life.  It not only injures the thought life but it also influences our whole being.  We see that God forbids us to view images of a sexual nature or to worship it.  I think every sexual sin committed is an act of cosmic idolatry.  I think naked images of women in light of the Bible is forbidden.  The Bible forbids us to play the harlot in our hearts to men or women.  It forbids us to fornicate in our minds and dwell on radical lust.  I know none of God's people are perfect.  We ought to repent and bear fruits of God's written Word. We are called to the obedience of the gospel (2 Corinthians 10:5).  The Bible also forbids the practice of homosexuality (cf. Romans 1).  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that no practicing homosexual will inherit the kingdom of God.  It does not mean homosexual sin is unforgivable.  Rather homosexual sin is forgivable through Jesus Christ alone.  However, if a person rebels in lives in homosexual (forsaking the gospel of turning away from sin) it is a life of harlotry.  Fornicators will also not inherit the kingdom of God.  There ought only to be sexual activity within a marriage between a man and woman alone.  There is nothing defiling about the marriage bed.  It is God's pure gift for enjoyment and furthering the human race.  If you find yourself viewing lustful images like these ancient people committed, think about how Christ died for you to live a more abundant life unto holy righteousness!  Dwell on the Cross and leave your burden there.   Confess your sins, misery and worthiness of punishment but give it to Jesus at the Cross, and accept in return His forgiveness, cleansing and divine grace! 

I see that it is reported that the Vatican is run by corrupt homosexuals.  Tell me, how do they maintain that they have some sort of goodness in them by nature when their spiritual leadership sins unto spiritual ruin?  I think God has turned them over to themselves because they have abandoned the gospel of Jesus.  They have welcomed the world and rejected the gospel-solas of the Reformation.  I think sexual sin is a serious problem among those of the Roman "fellowship."  I would respectfully like to call the Roman leadership in the corruption of the Vatican to faith and repentance in the real Savior and Lord.  The real Savior does not need the Virgin Mary to ease his fury or anger against us.  Rather the real Jesus always understands and He always forgives in light of the Bible.  I think sexually assaulting children or engaging in any sexual activity when they claim they are spiritually married to Christ is a harlotry.  It demonstrates that the Roman leadership in the Vatican is no good and polluted with thorough disobedience unto rebellious witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:22-24).   I am a survivor in light of the corruption of the Vatican, because God preordained through His divine providence that He would spiritually preserve me through His dear Son.  I do not think this is the first time in church history that Rome's leadership has been corrupted.  The sexual crimes of the Roman priests are extreme and lengthy because God has turned them over without hope of the Cross of Jesus. 

Monday, June 10, 2013

Augustine on Luke 11:27-28, Blessed Obedience and the Virgin Mary

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  (Luke 11:26-28 KJV).
The New Testament in Luke's Gospel provides us with the absolute blessing that God provides upon obedience to Him alone.  We know about being loyally obedient to God because of His written Word.  However, we see people searching for devotion, allegiance and obedience to the Virgin Mary.  No one should ever enter Pope John Paul II's "school of Mary" but rather the "school of Jesus Christ."  We see that the blessing of God comes upon those who observe the written Word about God.  God's blessing of obedience does not come to God's people through exalting the Virgin Mary.  This is clearly the intended meaning of our Savior's words.  God's blessing of observing His written Word and God's commandments is more essential and important than blessing the Virgin Mary.  It is simply better by God's divine grace through the changing power of His Word.  I would like to ask you, what does a blessing consist of?  What is a meaning of a blessing?  Blessing is righteous favor and correct doctrine.  Jesus said it is better to be obedient than to bless the Virgin Mary.  I am not saying Jesus contradicts Luke's Gospel account of the angel that proclaimed to Mary about her blessedness among women.  I think every son or daughter of Adam who believes unto obedience is blessed like Mary is blessed.  I am trying to labor to say in my feeble attempts to make plain that this "blessing" that Jesus condemns and rejects by saying "on the contrary" or "rather" regarding having this "blessing" to Mary as something that takes away our obedience to God.  I think honoring Mary is disobedience to God and His written Word.  I think there was emerging in the time of Jesus a Marian cult like there is among the Papists these days.  That means in the slightest sense if we exalt her in anyway about loyalty to Christ alone we have provoked a holy God.  I suggest to you that this Marian woman in the crowd where Jesus spoke sought to exalt the Virgin Mary.  That is, she venerated her like the Roman Papists and Orthodox people do nowadays.  I would like to suggest to you that is better to be a blessing unto obedience than to bless the Virgin Mary by dogmas or doctrines about her to honor her.  I would like to call the Roman Papists and Orthodox leadership to repentance though I am a nothing!  Reformation by God's presence through His Holy Spirit can only happen through a change of mind!  The primacy of importance is not honoring the Virgin Mary to get to Jesus as a gateway to Him but the blessing of obedience to His written Word alone.  The blessing of God's people is not praying to Mary.  Rather it is honoring His blessed Word and observing God's commandments.  Furthermore, the blessing of God's people is not exalting Mary as the Queen of Heaven or Assumed into Heaven or Eternal Virgin or the Sinlessness of Mary.  Rather the blessing is to those who keep the Word and obey the Word.  Moreover, the blessing of God's people is not viewing Mary as our Helper, Advocate, Intercessor or Redeemer!  Rather the blessing of God Almighty is for those who obey the written Word and the words of Jesus.  It is better to have faith in Jesus than to honor Mary in prayer.  If we seek to honor God, we will honor Jesus above any creature.  Let us look very carefully at what Augustine said and ponder his thoughts on this very Scriptural passage:
"Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ.  To someone who said, "Blessed is the womb that bore you," he replied, "Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it."  Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in him, of what advantage was that relationship?  Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart than in her flesh."  (Just, Jr., Oben, ACCOS, NT II, Luke, pg. 195).
I suggest to you that Augustine has a great point here.  Mary would not go to heaven if she did not know Jesus in her heart.  God needed to change Mary's heart just as much as Jesus' brothers.  The only way to go to heaven is to know God in our hearts through a personal relationship with Him in faithful repentance according to the gospel of Jesus.  Not even the "work" of the Virgin Mary in giving birth to Jesus Christ as His mother suffices to be enough to enter heaven's gates.  I suggest to you that only the imputed unified merit of Jesus Christ is the sole grounds through faith alone to be right with God!  I would like to respectfully point out with great boldness that the blessing of obedience is superior to the blessing of Mary in the manifestation of different dogmas about her through sacred history.  I suggest to you that the different doctrines about Mary are because of the radically corrupt minds of men.  The sinful flesh wants another refuge besides God.  The sinful flesh wants something else besides the divine Word of God.  If we do not go beyond the written Scriptures, we will never embrace any of the dogmas of the Papists.  Blessed is the man who possesses Jesus' imputed unified righteousness alone by faith alone!  Blessed is the man who has a changed heart unto obedience to God through repentance unto bearing fruits.  May God help them see the divine truth of God in His written Word.  It is better to be obedient than to honor Mary because we ought to honor God alone in our obedience.  Amen.
     My heart goes out to those people who have erred in taking the words of Scripture and the early fathers too far.  My heart bleeds for the Roman Catholic and Orthodox people who have exalted Mary as an equal to Christ.   Do you realize that Jesus found fault with a ceremony among the leadership of Jews that washed their hands as a "sacred tradition?"  I am afraid the reaction of Jesus at the Day of Judgement will be far worse regarding exalting His mother.   I keep praying for a reformation of dogma among the Papists so that they might know the unspeakable and eternal joys of heaven.   I am only a man saved by grace alone, but I set forth the doctrines of divine Writ.  I proclaim this day Jesus Christ alone and Him crucified.  Will you honor your King and Master by rejecting exaltation of Mary?  Think about what has been said and ask God to help you.  Grace and peace!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Bible Teaches the Gospel of God Apart from the Man-Made Tradition According to Romanism Regarding Purgatory

We ought to understand that the Bible teaches the gospel of God apart from tradition that is taught in Roman Catholicism.  The gospel of God is the perfect life and death of the Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ!  The false theology that is taught in Romanism is purgatory in light of the Council of Trent.  
William Webster at Christian Resources wrote of the Council of Trent:
Decree Concerning Purgatory:
Since the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, following the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers, taught in sacred councils and very recently in this ecumenical council that there is a purgatory, and that the souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar, the holy council commands the bishops that they strive diligently to the end that the sound doctrine of purgatory, transmitted by the Fathers and sacred councils, be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ, and to be everywhere taught and preached.
Canons Concerning Justification: Canon 30:
If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatory before the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema (The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, in Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1919 ed.), pp. 214, 46).
The evangelical Christian who believes in grace alone through faith alone in Christ based on Scripture alone for the glory of God alone is accursed from the Decrees of the Council of Trent.  I would say also that the Greek Christians are also cursed because they deny the "fires of purgatory" and embrace the power of His bitter agony at His blessed Cross.  What shall we say to Rome in response?   I would like to point out that the Bible does not teach purgatory.  I suggest to you that the Bible teaches the all-sufficiency of the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Let look on how astonishingly "muddled" Rome's salvational theology is. 
It firmly believes, professes, and proclaims that those not living within the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics cannot become participants in eternal life, but will depart "into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels" [Matt. 25:41], unless before the end of life the same have been added to the flock; and that the unity of the ecclesiastical body is so strong that only to those remaining in it are the sacraments of the Church of benefit for salvation, and do fastings, almsgiving, and other functions of piety and exercises of Christian service produce eternal reward, and that no one, whatever almsgiving he has practiced, even if he has shed blood for the name of Christ, can be saved, unless he has remained in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.  (Denzinger 714).
We also read,
VATICAN CITY, SEP 9, 1998 (VIS) - At today's Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on the theme of The Spirit of God and the 'Seeds of Truth' in non-Christian Religions. The 'seeds of truth', said John Paul II, are 'the effect of the Spirit of truth operating outside the visible confines of the Mystical Body', the wind 'which blows where it wills'. The Holy Father explained that in all authentic religious experiences, the most characteristic manifestation is prayer. ... Every true prayer is inspired by the Holy Spirit, Who is mysteriously present in the heart of every person. Through the practice of what is good in their own religious traditions, and following the dictates of their consciences, members of other religions positively respond to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even though they may not recognize Him as their Savior. The attitude of the Church and of individual Christians with regard to other religions is characterized by sincere respect, deep kindness, and also, where it is possible and appropriate, cordial collaboration. This does not mean forgetting that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and Savior of the human race. Nor does it imply lessening the missionary effort to which we have an obligation, in obedience to the command of the Risen Lord: 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'. This attitude of respect and dialogue, concluded John Paul II, represents a due recognition of the 'seeds of the Word' and of the 'groans of the Spirit'. It also prepares the proclamation of the Gospel in awaiting the time when the Lord shows his mercy.

Those who do not believe Jesus Christ exclusively will not inherit the kingdom of God.  We ought to also understand that the Lord Jesus is not guilty of sin! but He took the sin of His people upon Himself alone but as the sin was applied to Him He remained sinless:

John 8:46 NASB
Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
Hebrews 9:14 NASB
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
John 19:30 NASB
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Jesus lived a sinless life in behalf of His people.   He earned salvation for us.  He took sin upon Himself to pay for the sin of God's people alone.  Although the Valley of Vision says he became a 'transgressor' I do not think it means He became a sinner but that sin was implied to Him alone.  I think it is also true that it is a divine mystery.  

The Valley of Vision puts it this way,

"Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips, supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary.'  There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son, made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me; There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow; There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite atonement was made; There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment endured.  Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy, cast off that I might be brought in, trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend, surrendered to hell's worst that I might attain heaven's best, stripped that I might be clothed, wounded that I might be healed, athirst that I might drink, tormented that I might be comforted, made a shame that I might inherit glory, entered darkness that I might have eternal light.  My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes, groaned that I might have endless song, endured all pain that I might have unfading health, bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem, bowed his head that I might uplift mine, experienced reproach that I might receive welcome, closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness, expired that I might for ever live.  O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou mightest spare me, all this transfer thy love designed and accomplished; Help me to adore thee by lips and life.  O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise, my every step buoyant with delight, as I see my enemies crushed, Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed, sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood, hell's gates closed, heaven's portal open.  Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross, mighty to subdue, comfort and save."  (The Valley of Vision, pp. 76-77).

The Bible does not teach purgatory because the apostle Paul writes the following things concerning the Cross of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, because the Cross is the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ to take away sin and Jesus endured the FULL and TOTAL and COMPLETE punishment for the sins of God's elect.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
 1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB
[ The Wisdom of God ] For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Galatians 6:12 NASB
Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Galatians 6:14 NASB
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
Philippians 2:8 NASB
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 3:18 NASB
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
Colossians 1:20 NASB
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Colossians 2:14 NASB
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
The author of the book of Hebrews teaches us about the Cross of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 12:2 NASB
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The apostle Peter writes on the Cross of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 2:24 NASB

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
I suggest to you that the Cross of Jesus disproves the Catholic doctrine of purgatory.  I would like to point out that if people understood that awesome power of the Cross they would not want a "theological system" that invited the "fires of purgatory."  Suppose the early fathers taught it, I think the absolute supremacy of the Cross is far greater than the tradition of men!
Grace and peace,
Michael A. Petillo

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Curriculum Vita: Michael A. Petillo

Michael Petillo
_____________________________________________

Michael Andrew Petillo (born October 31, 1978 (Reformation Day) is a Christian man of God and an American historian, Bible reformer, hymn writer, Bible preacher and teacher, Calvinist theologian, poet, Christian philosopher, online author and online evangelistic apologist concerning non-Christian cults, the occult and world religions.

ACADEMIC EDUCATION

Doctor of Theology in Orthodox Studies (DTh with honors) from St. Andrew's Theological College and Seminary (www.divinityschool.org).  Distance Education and Dissertation Method, Lexington, NC, 2004.
Masters of Arts in Religion (MA Rel.) from Liberty University (www.liberty.edu):
Distance Learning Program, Lynchburg, VA. (Fall of 02 – May of 04).
Masters of Arts in History (MA His.) from Monmouth University (www.monmouth.edu):
West Long Branch, New Jersey. (Summer of 02 – January of 04). 

Certificate of Study In Christian Apologetics from Biola University (www.biola.edu):
Distance Learning Program, La Mirada, CA. (March of 2003).

Bachelors of Science in Religion (BS Rel.) from Liberty University (www.liberty.edu):
External Degree Program, Lynchburg, VA. (May of 2002).
Bachelors of Arts in History (BA His.) from Monmouth University (www.monmouth.edu):
West Long Branch, New Jersey. (September of 1999 – May 16th, 2001). 

Associates in Arts (AA) from Brookdale Community College (brookdale.cc.nj.us):
Lincroft, New Jersey. (September of 1997 – May of 1999).

I also played two years of college basketball at (BCC).

At Monmouth University at the undergraduate level, I completed my bachelors' thesis on The Jehovah's Witnesses and History of False Prophecies.  At Monmouth University at the graduate level, I completed my masters' thesis on The Apostle Peter Viewed By the Early Church Fathers.  At St. Andrew's Theological College and Seminary, I completed my doctorate dissertation in 531-pages on The Reformed Doctrines of the Bible.  

VARIOUS ONLINE PUBLICATIONS 

As Director of Son of Man Ministries at lcf1689.blogspot.com, I have published various articles, small booklets and pamphlets, Reformed sermons, responses in debates and blog presentations. 

As Chairman of Rock of Offense Ministries at rpmin.blogspot.com, I publish full Reformed sermons everyday.  I want to reawaken people to a sermon-focused ministry everyday like John Calvin and Martin Luther.  Preachers tend not to preach everyday.  I think it is a lost art that should be reawakened!  I also want to post sermons like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon.   I do not preach as "good" as they do, of course, because they were put apart by God with rare gifts.  However, I speak to use my "humble" excellence for the glory of God in preaching the gospel.   I am hoping with my few "fishes and loaves" that Jesus will use it as apart of an instrument of God to reform the world by faith and repentance and obedience to His holy Word by sharing the love of God toward our neighbor or enemies.  I pray that I am able to teach, preach and defend the whole counsel of God according to the divine Scriptures alone.

As Director of Theologian of the Cross Ministries at crossmin.blogspot.com, I will seek to proclaim the Cross regarding God's truth about the supremacy and centrality of the divine Scripture alone and that of the Cross of Jesus.

I also had a hard copy printed of my gospel tract "Your Desperate Need For the Gospel" and disturbed it around the Jersey Shore area.  People were able to read about the saving Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1.1.  I do not have the financial support to self-publish books or the connections to publish through a publishing company.  This has opened up another great opportunity in another way in God's providential plan to publish online through available online "services."  I have decided to publish my books, some reformed sermons and blog presentations online.  The Bible clearly says "Freely received, freely give."  In other words, I have received spiritual salvation freely by God's grace in His plan of providential care.  My books are free but they are surely not cheap!  This means I put a lot of work into them and I pray God uses my few "fishes and bread" to advance His Gospel.  I also published some Reformed sermons and blog presentations.  I have some book projects underway that I am assigned to write.  It is understood as "fair use" in light of the written materials belong to me alone, but open to the public edification.  Here are my current and free publications online Concerning Books, Pamphlets and Booklets at Lord of Glory Ministries at lgmin.blogspot.com:
  • The Shadow's Deception: 95-Disputations on the Alleged Infallibility of the Pope That Impacts All Dogma in Denzinger's "The Sources of Catholic Dogma", Vol. 1 (updated)
  • The Psychology of Damnation: A Study of the Mind of a Double Malice Reprobate of the Divine Word in Plain Reason 
  • The Superlative Son of Man: A Study of the Saving Gospel in God the Son
  • The Grace of the Unified Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ: A Personal Witness to the Divine Truth of the Complete Righteousness of Christ Imputed through the Grace of Faith Alone 
  • The Holy Spirit Controversy: Discerning if the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person 
  • The Resurrection of Christ Controversy: Discerning the Gospel of the Resurrection
  • The Snow That Cannot Be Plowed 
  • The King With The Endless Robe
  • The Spiritual Garments of Wrath: A Devotional Study of the Majestic Righteousness of Christ alone of Zechariah 3 in light of the Self-Destructive Righteousness of the Religions of Men 
  • The Freemason Controversy: Discerning the Differences between the Masonic Lodge and Christianity 
  • The Precious Truth of the Gospel of Grace: The Good News of the All-Sufficient Lord Jesus Christ
  • Is the Scientologist* My Brother? Discerning the Difference between the Church of Scientology* and Christianity  
  • TURN AWAY TO THE LORD: A Biblical Call for the Obedience of Personal Repentance to America and Great Britain: A Rational and Scriptural Study of Repentance and Romans 2:4 
  • I THANK THEE, O FATHER: A Study on the Matchless Prayers of the Incarnate Word of God
  • The Jehovah’s Witness Controversy: Discerning the Differences between the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and Christianity 
  • The Loveliness of My Beloved: A Little Devotional Concerning Martial Affection Between Man and Woman of God’s Choosing for Holy Happiness 
  • The Religion of Animism: Exposing the Tenets of Primitive Religion by Reformed Truth
  • That Very Foundation: The Reformed Doctrine of the Bodily Resurrection of the Incarnate Son of Man 
  • 94-Disputations on Jehovah’s Witness Theology for Christian Unity 
  • The Divine Eucharist: A Basic Devotional Awakening to the Eucharist of the Divine Word in the Dedication of Christian Living in the Presence of God 
  • Every Rain Drop: A Rational and Scriptural Study of Absolute Predestination 
  • Born In Captivity: A Study of the Nature of Sin 
  • O, Come Divine Comforter: A Rational and Scriptural Study of the Person and Deity of the Holy Spirit 
  • 95-Disputations Regarding Grace, Faith, Christ, Scripture, and the Church Statements on Systematic Theology and the Church History in Refutation of Romanism