A Sin unto Death

By Theodore Epp


1 John 5:14-21

We do not always know whether a Christian's sin is unto death; for that reason my own suggestion is that we should be sure to pray for such a person if we are in doubt.

If we see that God is not going to answer, it could be that the person prayed for has committed a sin unto death. But I will continue to pray for such a person until the Spirit in some way makes it plain just what has happened in his life.

I believe that the sin unto death is a deliberate sin of a believer against better knowledge. When John wrote about committing this sin, he used the tense so often employed throughout his first epistle, the tense that signifies continuation of action.

In my opinion the sin unto death is a deliberately planned and willful persistence in some evil course with the guilty person presuming on God's grace or mercy.

The death that results from this sin, as far as I can determine from Scripture, is physical death, not spiritual death. There is a vast difference between the two.

There may be those who have said, "Since I am eternally saved, I can live just as I please." They willfully and deliberately ignore the new life within them and its urging to godly living. I believe such a person stands in danger of committing the sin unto death.

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me" (Ps. 19:13).

THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL

By Bible Names of God


Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The message of Paul was "To the Jew first," but here the Gentiles are mentioned first. The Jews turned away from Jesus and would not have Him to Rule over them, but the Gentiles will not receive Him either --- just a few. The glory shall rest upon Israel when He comes with Sceptre in hand to Rule a reconstructed earth. The Shekinah Glory, manifested in the tabernacle and temple, will shine again upon His beloved people, and Jesus --- the Jew --- will be the Glory of Israel on that day! Let us love the Jews and see to bring the Gospel of the grace of God to them.

Lord Jesus, Who art the Glory of Thy people Israel, remember Thy persecuted, penalty-paying people and help us to love them. Amen.

Eternity - Leonard Ravenhill

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."--1 Peter 4:12

  


J. C. Philpot - Daily Portions




"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."--1 Peter 4:12

The "fiery trial," then, is not a strange thing which happens only to a few of the Lord's family, but is more or less the appointed lot of all. Do we not hear the Lord saying to his Zion, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction?" 

All then that are chosen must pass through the furnace of affliction, and all know experimentally the fiery trial, for by it they are made partakers of Christ's sufferings. But this is indispensable in order to be partakers of his glory. "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Thus they suffer with him, "that when his glory shall be revealed, they may be glad also with exceeding joy." And this suffering with and for Christ in the furnace of affliction salts the soul, preserves it from corruption, communicates health, gives it savour and flavour, is a token of interest in the everlasting covenant, and is a seal of friendship and peace with God.

Small Things Give Anxiety

By Mary Wilder Tileston


The Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
2 THESSALONIANS 3:16 (R. V.)

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence.
PSALMS 31:20


LET my life be hid in Thee,
Life of life and Light of light!
Love's illimitable sea,,br> Depth of peace, of power the height!

Let my life be hid in Thee
From vexation and annoy;
Calm in Thy tranquillity,
All my mourning turned to joy.
JOHN BULL


IT is small things that, just because of their smallness, distress and overset us. I mean the weight of daily care, which in their small details of personal expenditure, and in the careful routine of a household, and in the rearing of children, and in the society of friends, and in the outside duty, and in private affairs, singly and separately is sufficiently burdensome; but altogether, and on one set of shoulders, is sometimes felt to be more than the strength can bear. Those anxious lives, tempted to be fretful, and hasty, and self-important, and fussed with their incessant activities, may, if rightly interpreted, and manfully grasped, settle down into round and sunny centres of regular, and peaceful, and fruitful activities. Where there is prayer, there is peace; and God, who makes every duty possible, knows, helps, and cares.
ANTHONY W. THOROLD

THE BRANCH OF THE LORD

By Bible Names of God


Isai 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth [shall be] excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. {beautiful...: Heb. beauty and glory} {them...: Heb. the escaping}

The Divine and human in Christ can not be seperated. "I and My Father are One" says Christ in Jn 10:30, attesting to His Deity. In Jer 23:5 we read: "I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch, and a King shall reign," and this speaks of His humanity. Now add to the title "A Righteous Branch" the words "beautiful and glorious" and you have a perfect picture of Him Who, as our High Priest, could be touched with the feelings of our infirmaties, and yet who was "God manifest in the flesh". Great is the mystery of godliness!

How we thank Thee, Thou "Branch of the Lord" that we can come close to Thee at any time. Amen

THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE by Hanna Whitall Smith

THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE

by Hanna Whitall Smith


CONTENTS:

Part I - THE LIFE

1. Is it Scriptural?
2. God's side and man's side.
3. The life defined G
4. How to enter in.

Part 2 - DIFFICULTIES

5. Difficulties concerning consecration.
6. Difficulties concerning faith.
7. Difficulties concerning the will.
8. Difficulties concerning guidance.
9. Difficulties concerning doubts.
10. Difficulties concerning temptations.
11. Difficulties concerning failures.
12. Is God everything?

Part 3 - RESULTS

13. Bondage or freedom.
14. Growth.
15. Service.
16. Practical results in the daily walk.
17. The joy of obedience.
18. Divine Union.
19. The chariots of God.
20. The life on wings.

Never Cast Out

     
FAITH'S CHECKBOOK



C.H. SPURGEON


Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)

Is there any instance of our Lord's casting out a coming one? If there be so, we would like to know of it; but there has been none, and there never will be. Among the lost souls in hell there is not one that can say, "I went to Jesus, and He refused me." It is not possible that you or I should be the first to whom Jesus shall break His word. Let us not entertain so dark a suspicion.

Suppose we go to Jesus now about the evils of today. Oh, this we may be sure--He will not refuse us audience or cast us out. Those of us who have often been and those who have never gone before--let us go together, and we shall see that He will not shut the door of His grace in the face of any one of us.

"This man receiveth sinners," but He repulses none. We come to Him in weakness and sin, with trembling faith, and small knowledge, and slender hope; but He does not cast us out. We come by prayer, and that prayer broken; with confession, and that confession faulty; with praise, and that praise far short of His merits; but yet He receives us. We come diseased, polluted, worn out, and worthless; but He doth in no wise cast us out. Let us come again today to Him who never casts us out.