4/10/15

How Many Real Christians Are There In This World? Answer: Very Few - J.C. Philpot (1843)

Excerpted from: The Cry of Jonah out of the Belly of Hell JCP [1843]
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Much that passes for religion, is not true religion at all. Much that goes for true evidences and real hopes [of salvation], is nothing but lying refuges. Much is palmed upon men for the teaching of the Spirit, which is nothing but delusion.

Vital godliness is very rare.

There are very few people spiritually taught of God.

There are very few ministers who really preach the truth.

Satan is thus daily deceiving thousands, and tens of thousands.

A living soul, however weak and feeble in himself...cannot take up with a religion in the flesh. He cannot rest on the opinions of men, nor be deceived by Satan's delusions. He has a secret gnawing of conscience, which makes him dissatisfied with a religion that satisfies thousands.
[hundreds of thousands - 2015] - J.C. Philpot (1802-1869)
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J.C. Philpot's comments bring to mind the words of Christ Jesus recorded in the Bible verse Matthew 7:14: '...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it'

Few there be that find the way that leadeth to life...is the official pronouncement from the Living Word of God Himself [Rev. 19:11-13]. Question then: How many is "a few"?

The NT Greek word translated into the English word "few" is:


3641 oligos ol-ee'-gos of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat:--+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.

How many then, in number, is a few? As seen, the answer is that the number of 'real Christians', i.e. truly regenerate, is "puny".

Those "puny few" who can never be satisfied with the dead religiosity of Laodicea will often find themselves with no other choice than to stand alone. Is this your lot?  see: Discipleship In An Evil Day - CHM

See also: Few Saved - by J.C. Ryle

Rev. 18:4
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'Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able - link.  Luke 13:23-34

4 comments :

Unknown said...

So only a few people are going to be saved. It's hard to accept that. If only a few will be saved, then are there really a billion Christians to mobilize through Rick Warren's peace plan? If only a few are going to be saved but the others have not fully surrendered their life to God? It can't be. It's because the others do not truly trust in Jesus and his death and resurrection.

tom m. said...

AB,

re: "a billion Christians...Rick Warren's peace plan?"

Rick Warren's "peace plan" has nothing whatsoever to do with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ - it is a scheme to build a global system of social works;

carefully consider: Matt. 7:21-23

The condition of the church today is Laodicea - they will be spued out; see Rev. 3:15-17

Why? Laodiceans are 'Christians' in name only i.e. nominal. In other words, not 'real', not truly born again i.e. regenerate. Another word to describe them is 'professors'.

These are the vast majority today. They are like the "many" in Matt. 7:22 who say "Lord, Lord, have we not... in thy name done many wonderful works?"

...but the Lord 'professes' right back to these 'professors'..."I never knew you" - Matt. 7:23

Only a few saved? Not only can it be, it is the reality. The Word of God makes this clear throughout.

In actuality, it is only the elect who are saved [e.g. 2Peter 1:10].

Many are called, few are chosen.

Don't be a 'many', don't get spued out...

Unknown said...

So I doubt that there are really a billion. I wonder if this number has given people a false sense of security. Laodicians? Are they ones that are luke warm? Not really full on and only think they are Christian because they associate with Christian thinking?

tom m. said...

Yes to the above