"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp." Hebrews 13:13
JESUS, BEARING HIS cross, went forth to suffer outside the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master.
JESUS, BEARING HIS cross, went forth to suffer outside the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master.
Christ was “not of the world.” His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners.
In like manner Christ’s people must “go out to Him.” They must take their position “outside the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people “go forth outside the camp” for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all.
No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife that others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ “outside the camp.”
The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment’s shame will be well recompensed by eternal honor; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are “forever with the Lord."
From Morning and Evening, April 6, by Charles H. Spurgeon.
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see: promises to the overcomer
hear the song (it's worth a click): Midnight Cry-Matt. 25:6
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see: promises to the overcomer
hear the song (it's worth a click): Midnight Cry-Matt. 25:6
8 comments :
W/O the camp....W/In the veil. TM
Eph 2:10 ( also Titus 3:8)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them"
Do you interpret this as walk in a manner that demonstrates fruit of the Spirit (conduct)in that we are saved by grace through faith.?
....or that we should get out our nails and hammers and get to work with the "Good Works Corps" because we are good Christians?.
I'm in a rather heated debate with a christian worker-bee who demonstrates little if any fruit but has dedicated all of his earthly assets, time and abilities to the work of a mission he created and runs. I see more Jewish in him than I used to be. Sin/works,sin/works....over and again. Blind guide far as I can tell. Knowledge of the word...no saving faith nor fruit. Works...yes. He's also a preterist.
Believe we must step out...(after a good-bye statement of our faith as kindly as we can muster, and a sandle dust off.)
The entire thing is troubling to watch. None of the other missionaries that help now and again see it . All they see is this man's work and his fortune sunk into the mission (every dime he's ever made. He's made lots!) ...thus God's annointed
(as one described him)
Money and works seems to convince them of his holy qualifications.
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No doubt we will see more and more of works-christianity in these times. We just can't ignore it.
Charles Spurgeon
Sermon #70 Good Works
Titus 2:14
"Who gave Himself for us , that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"
Charles Spurgeon cleared it all up for me in this wonderful sermon.
A keeper!
ABL, all the churches are being encouraged to do works....side-by-side with people of different beliefs and serving different gods and purposes.....w/o preaching of the true gospel. There is a strong call for unity in prayer and social services and loving one another (but don't tell them 100% truth). In other words, join in and be a part of the general concensus.
Anyone can form a ministry and do works, but the question is whether the LORD God gets all the glory and is it His ministry and is it in obedience to Him.
Psalm 127:1...Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
Anyway....Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.....Bring it all to the LORD....He already has the answer for you in His Word.
:^)))
ABL,
Just a quick thought on the subject. 'Christendom' is full of 'workers', all saying "Lord, Lord" and prophesying (preaching/teaching) and doing what they consider to be many "wonderful works" in the "name of Jesus". The crucial question though is...are they actually doing the will of the Father? (v. 21)
Have they truly been sent by Him, or have they of their own will 'went' without the call (v. 23 'I never knew you').
Many will be found in this class, in fact it appears to be more the rule than the exception. Their works are called iniquity. The Lord will Himself then have something to 'profess' to the 'professors' (depart from me).
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Matt. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
As for preterism...which basically falls into the dominionism camp...well, in my book...bottom line...that's another gospel. The church will never do the 'wonderful work' of 'changing the world'. To hold this belief can only bring confusion of doctrine and works.
Nothing is easy in these days of the 'falling away', ABL. Especially the heartache of seeing so many (friends included) who have little to no real understanding.
But, if there is irremediable corruption in the camp, there is no alternative:
Gotta "go on unto perfection...And this will we do, if God permit." Heb. 6:1-3
Oh dear brother and sis...thank you.
It's an encouragement. All you have said we have hashed over and over and prayed and prayed...to tears. The burden of witness still remains that you talk to this christian tactfully in truth...then be on your way.
The more painful is to watch spiritual harms done to the new pastors and indiginous believers. This man can be abrupt, cruel in his words and seemingly un-loving. He can as well be quite likeable. The duality no doubt confuses them. We have found however that a good % of them are truly born again and see the bigger picture. They are stuck picking mission coffee and learning his brand of legalism. They are being spiritually abused.
Hard not to have a heart for them. They are truly my brothers and sisters.
Grief ....tough times...and especially hard with language barriers. I do not speak the indiginous language... All I could do was to love and protect them as best I could....Now I must go....real real sad. :-((
On the positive side...the LORD is more than able to take perfect care of every single one of His own, we cannot.
John 6:39
Romans 8:38-39
Phil 1:6
2 Tim. 2:19
Jude 1:24
When the apostle Paul 'had to git'...he commended all to God and the word of his grace...Acts 20:25-32
Wonderful scriptures..thanks.
Acts 20:25-32
...and we must not shun the declaration of all the counsel of God !(...who knows the Lord may have it that some be pulled out of the fire.)
This lil Christian soldier must buck up and dig into the meat.
Breast days appear to be over....
(growing up has its painful moments.)
Am confident that He is able.... The Lord put us here and this may be why.
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