The more one engages in self justification, the less likely that one will ever know the joy of God’s justification.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 

Genesis 6:5-8

Uncontrolled anger will burn bridges that have been built into other’s lives.  Uncontrolled anger can torch relationships.   

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Ephesians 4:26

Sinners Jesus will receive:
Sound this word of grace to all
Who the heav’nly pathway leave,
All who linger, all who fall.

Chorus:
Sing it o’er (Sing it o’er again)
and o’er again:(Sing it o’er again:)
Christ receiveth (Christ receiveth sinful men)
sinful men. (Christ receiveth sinful men)
Make the message (Make the message clear and plain)
clear and plain: (Make the message clear and plain)
Christ receiveth sinful men.

 Come, and He will give you rest;
Trust Him, for His word is plain;
He will take the sinfulest;
Christ receiveth sinful men. [Chorus]

 Now my heart condemns me not,
Pure before the law I stand;
He who cleansed me from all spot
Satisfied its last demand. [Chorus]

 Christ receiveth sinful men,
Even me with all my sin;
Purged from ev’ry spot and stain,
Heav’n with Him I enter in. [Chorus]

Author – Erdmann Neumeister (1718)

Copyright – Public Domain

Source: Hymnary.org

I pray that I may let my child live his own life and not the one I wish I had lived.  Therefore, guard me against burdening him with what I failed to do.

Help me to see his missteps today in perspective against the long road he must travel and grant me the grace to be patient with his slow pace.

Give me the wisdom to know when to smile at the small mischiefs of his age and when to show firmness against the impulses which he fears and cannot handle.

Help me to bear the anguish in his heart through the din of angry words or across the gulf of brooding silence.  And having heard, grant me the ability to bridge the gap between us with understanding.

I pray that I may raise my voice more in joy of what he is, than vexation at what he is not, so that each day he may grow in sureness of himself.

Help me to regard him with genuine affection so he will feel affection for others.  Then give me the strength, O Lord, to free him so that he can move strongly on his way.

Author Unknown

Keep your eyes on the ball, a coach yells to a batter and a golf pro to his student, because you will never hit the ball until you learn to keep your eyes fastened on it!

And so the apostle Paul writes to the Galatians; keep your eyes on Jesus Christ.  He knew  very well what he was writing about since that day  on the Damascus Road, when he lifted his eyes to behold the blinding glory of his Saviour.  

False teachers had crept in and diverted the Galatian’s eyes unto the Law and their own fleshly works of righteousness.  Paul writes to correct their vision.  In chapter one of Galatians he marvels that they are so soon removed from Christ.  In chapter three he questions their ability to see at all.  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

Paul looked ever upward.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil.3:14).  Paul looked unto the cross.  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal.6:14a).  Paul looked unto Christ.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2a). 

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  Galatians 2:16

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Early in twentieth century Christianity there arose what came to be known as the Modernist versus Fundamentalist Controversy.  The Modernists were those who forced their unbelieving views upon Christianity.  These men were unbelieving religious leaders, religious teachers and liberal theologians who accepted the evolutionary theories of the late 1800’s and rejected the claims Scripture made for itself.  Their thinking was fueled by German rationalism which attacked the Bible’s integrity by denying its miracles and historicity, and by declaring portions of the Scriptures to be mythological.  They found a way to make a living (vocation) off of Christian ministry even though they did not believe.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.  Romans 16:17 & 18

The old Evangelicals believed the Bible and honored it for what it claimed to be, the very Word of God.  They defended the Bible and refused to dialogue and/or compromise with the unbelieving Modernists.  The old Evangelicals refused to give the Modernists Christian recognition.  The old Evangelical’s actions were anchored in Scripture.[1]

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.   II John 9-11

There were those in the Evangelical camp however, that wanted to practice toleration (in the name of love) towards false teachers and to extend Christian recognition to the unbelieving Modernists.  These men called themselves New Evangelicals.[2]  Dr. Harold Ockenga, the Boston pastor who coined the term New Evangelical, issued a formal statement that said; The New Evangelicalism has changed its strategy from one of separation to one of infiltration.[3]  Dr. Ockenga had a sermon entitled Fringe Friends.  His message lent itself to the idea that unbelieving (false) teachers of the liberal wing are not really enemies of the evangelical cause; they are borderline friends.[4]

Jesus speaking: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  John 15:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ                with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?                II Corinthians 6:14 & 15

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

Note: Separation from doctrinal error, false teaching and false religion is commanded and taught throughout Scripture.  When this biblical truth is ignored and disobeyed, the result is apostasy. 

Apostasy – a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection.

  [1] The New Evangelicalism by Charles Woodbridge, p. 16 – copyright 1969, Bob Jones University Press, Greenville, S.C.

            [2] “(Ibid p. 15 & 23)”

            [3] “(Ibid p. 14)”

             [4] “(Ibid p. 24)”

Bibliography

Ashbrook, John E.   New Neutralism II    Here I Stand Books   1992.

Hordern, William   A Layman’s Guide to Protestant Theology    McMillan Publishing Co. Inc.  1955  Copyright 1968 by W.E. Hordern

Ramm, Bernard   A Handbook of Contemporary Theology   Grand Rapids:   Wm. B. Erdmans Publishing Co., 1966

Woodbridge, Charles   The New Evangelicalism   Greenville, S.C.  Bob Jones University Press   1969

Walton, Dennis M.   An Identification of New Evangelicalism   Minneapolis, MN  Central Press

A “bit of love” is the only bit that will put a bridle on the tongue!

Author Unknown

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.  And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.  And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.  And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.  So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen. 

Matthew 28:1-20

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done?  But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

And sitting down they watched him there;

And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.  He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.  And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.  The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.  And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. 

Matthew 27:22-66