Separating from the World and Unto Jesus Christ

by Kevin Williams

Rom 12:1-2 tells us "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

What does it mean to "not be conformed to this world"? and to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God"

Well, Romans 1-11- Tells us that, left to ourselves, we all deserve nothing less than Hell, and there was nothing in us worth saving, but Christ so loves you He died for you anyway because everything is for His glory, so 12v1 therefore….. “….present your bodies [all of you, your eyes, body and every thought] a living sacrifice, holy [set apart from the world and to God embracing and being obedient to His will], acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed [shaped and moulded by] to this world [basically anything that goes against the will of God, the ideals, morals, etc of this age], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God".

Now it's important that we don't just separate from ungodly things for the sake of religious separation otherwise we are no better than Pharisaical legalism, but rather we should separate unto Jesus Christ, and because of the love of Christ in what He has done for us, it is each brother's reasonable service to do this.

I suggest a good study is to read all of the New Testament Epistles from 1 Corinthians to 3 John, with special attention asking what does God require of me', and marking all those verses which deal with 'putting off the old man and putting on the new'. And when you've finished do the same with proverbs.

David wrote in Psalm 1: " 1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

What is the council of the ungodly? It is the ways, advice, morals of those outside of the will of God as revealed in His inspired and infallible Word the Bible. And "Nor stands in the path of sinners" avoid corrupt influence that may corrupt your thinking/morals.

1 Tim 4:7b: "..exercise yourself toward godliness."

The word 'exercise' here, gives the picture of an athlete in disciplined training. In our case we are to focus our efforts towards godliness.

While many acknowledge James 1: 27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble...", people normally miss the second half of the verse: "...and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

1 Tim 4:12: "....be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Conduct is how we go about our lives. What is purity? If someone put a jug of the finest fresh water in front of you and it had just one tiny drop of sewage in it, would you drink it? If we read our Bible and pray, but then put on a TV and watch films/soaps with filthy language, adultery etc, then we are polluting our minds.

James 1: 21-22: says "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

In this excellent short video Ray Comfort shows the absurdity of Christians watching films that contain sex and blasphemy. If we do we are basically prostituting others to sin for us. The video asks the question "Would you watch a movie that uses your mother's name as a cuss word?" and so why are people so ready to watch a movie that uses God's name as a cuss word.


Listen to this episode of CrossTalkAmerica edition Movie Endorsing Pastors on the sin of the churches willingness to watch blasphemous media.

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 27-30 ““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”

Matt 6: 13 “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” There is no point in praying this and then putting MTV on.

Matt 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

As Paul Washer said "When a brother tells me he's struggling with his thought life, my question for him is 'where are your eyes going?'"

1 Tim 4:16: "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."

Paul Washer Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking & Biblical the Preacher Was Never Invited Back

If you've never heard this message by Paul Washer then I suggest you hear it now. It is life changing.


SermonAudio.com :"This is a Shockingly Powerful & Biblical message preached to about 5,000 youth in a day when youth are appealed to through shallow and worldly means. At one point in this sermon the 5,000 Youth are clapping and yelling BUT THEN the preacher makes a comment that CHANGES THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE TO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP... As you can imagine, the preacher was never invited back. We believe the whole sermon will be a blessing to many souls."

Play Video in WMV or Download

Click to play, or Right-Click to download mp3

PDF Text

Way of the Master in London and Europe

The Way of Master, a ministry that teaches Christians how to share their faith, Biblically and in a simple way (See Episodes) are in Europe right now shooting their fourth TV series. You can follow their journey at fourthseason.blogspot.com and also by listening to Todd Friel on his daily Way of the Master Radio Show 8-10pm U.K. time.

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with Todd and fellow brothers and sisters, whilst he was in London filming for the fourth series at reformation locations, and here are a few photos of the day:





























Top: Ray Comfort and the team outside their London Hotel.
2nd: Filming in a field where George Whitfield open-air preached to 30,000 people (no microphones of course in those days)
3rd:
Todd Friel open-air preaches to the many people sat on the steps outside St.Paul's Cathedral.
4th: Myself (Kevin Williams) and Todd.
5th: Rob Hughes, Lisa and the WOTM crew on the field where Whitfield Preached.
6th: The statue of John Wesley carrying the great slogan of "THE WORLD IS MY PARISH."

Click on photo's to enlarge






Below are a few short classic witnessing clips from Way of the Master series 1:
A Wake up Call:

A Girl on a Night Out.


The Seal Beach Kid:

Stained Glass Windows- When the Anglican church went Catholic

Many would be surprised to learn that the stained glass windows we see in churches today only started to appear about 150 years ago. They were in the original Catholic Churches, but just like the Jews in Old Testament revivals smashed up the High Places of Pagan worship and ritual; the stain glass windows, statues and other idolatress practices were smashed up and torn down in the Reformation. They started to re-appear in the middle of the 19th Century when much of the Church of England was defecting back towards the Apostasy of the Church of Rome. (see Roman Catholicism for the errors on the Catholic Church. Also John MacArthur's excellent sermon on the apostasy of the Church of Rome, inside the Way of the Master Radio program Hour 1 & Hour 2)

Here is an extract from Bruce Shelly's Church History in Plain Language, on the Anglican Church's drift towards the fatal errors of Roman Catholicism:

"To spread their views the Oxford men launched, in 1833, a series of "Tracts for Times," a move that gave rise to the label "Tractarians." In these writings the Oxford leaders published their convictions on a single article of the creed: belief in "One, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church." They emphasized the apostolic succession of Bishops through history and the church's God-given authority to teach the truth and rule men's lives. They magnified the place of the sacraments, ascribing them to an actual saving power. As an ideal for the Church of England, they held up the church of the first five centuries. Then, they said, the Christian church was undivided and truly catholic.

While some of these historical ideas were fanciful, the Tractarians believed them enthusiastically, They called themselves Catholics, on the ground that they were in agreement with this early catholic Christianity, and they shunned the name Protestant, because it referred to a division in the church.

Public worship was vital to the Oxford men. They believed strongly in the religious values of symbolic actions in worship, such as turning toward the altar, bending the knee and elevating the cross. The worship of God, they said demands the total response of man, so ritual should appeal to the senses: rich clerical garments, incense on the altar, music by trained voices. In short, Tractarian Christianity was a zealous version of "High Church" Christianity.

Step by step the Oxford men moved toward the Church of Rome. Then came the thunderclap. In 1841 John Henry Newman wrote Tract 90 and asserted that the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England were not necessarily Protestant. They could be interpreted in the spirit of the Catholic Church. Did Newman really believe that a person could be a Roman Catholic and remain in the Church of England?

A storm of protest fell upon the Oxford movement. The Bishop of Oxford forbade Newman to publish other tracts. Newman concluded that the only way to be truly Catholic was to enter the Roman Catholic Church. He converted to Rome in 1845 and during the next six years hundreds of Anglican clergy men followed him. In time Newman became Rector of the New Catholic University in Dublin, and in 1877 he was made a Cardinal in the Church of Rome.

The great majority of the Tractarians, however, stayed in the Church of England and saw an increasing number of clergy men adopt their "High Church" views. Religion for many focused on ritual, priests, and sacraments. The concern for beauty brought in improvement in architecture, music, and art in the churches. Gradually the names "Oxford movement" and "Tractarian" gave way to "Anglo-Catholic," which meant Anglicans who valued their unity with the catholic tradition in Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, but refused to accept the supremacy of the patriarch or pope".

Evolution-A Fairy Tale For Grown Ups

A 7 minute Gospel Presentation video we made showing the absurdity of evolution.

Also Check out these FREE online Videos by www.AnswersinGenesis

Calvinism is the Gospel-How Letting Scripture Speak For Itself Rather than Trying to Force Man-Centred Ideas Into It, Solves the Debate

Charles Spurgeon: "...there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism.... Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else." Charles Spurgeon-A Defence of Calvinism

Many churches today have in their statement of Faith, something like: "we believe... Scripture is the final authority in all matters," yet when it comes to the doctrines of election and the role of the sovereinty of God, verses, man's free will in Salvation, they will go to great lenghs to try and explain away the obvious truths of Calvinism, and in their push for a man-centred gospel wrongly claim that because in the past, many have not been able to agree on these things, we can't take a dogmatic position, and so they claim it's okay for us to take our pick as to whether we believe Calvinism, Arminianism or more common today, semi-pelagianism in all its various forms. People can disagree all they like that two plus two equals four, but that doesn't make it okay for people to say you can't dogmatically state that two plus two equals four. The only reason Calvinism is a difficult Scriptual truth to grasp, is because people often try very hard to try and fit man-centred errors on free-will, they've been taught, into the Scripture. If we just let the text speak for itself, rather than trying to force our own errors into it, then Calvinism in Scripture is unmistakably clear. This 10 min video shows that interpreting the text grammatically, puts an end to any debate.
Grammar Solves the Calvinism Debate:


C.H.Spurgeon: "The old truth that Calvin preached, that Augustine preached, that Paul preached, is the truth that I must preach to-day, or else be false to my conscience and my God. I cannot shape the truth; I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine. John Knox's gospel is my gospel. That which thundered through Scotland must thunder through England again."

Heresy of Decisional Regeneration & How What People Call 'Non Essential' Doctrine Does Effect Evangelism

Today we have two timely 10 min video's (plus some excellent short article links), the first on the modern Heresy of Decisional Regeneration, and the second, on myth that what many in the church today wrongly call "non-essential" doctrine, does not effect our evangelism.

What is Regeneration?

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Our Lord Jesus Christ taught that the new birth is so important that no one can see heaven without it. Mistakes concerning this doctrine have been very destructive to the Church of Christ. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God. It is not a work of man. It is not something that man does but something that God does. The new birth is a change wrought in us, not an act performed by us. This is stated so beautifully by the Apostle John when in the first chapter of his Gospel he speaks of the children of God as those "which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (v. 13).

What is "Decisional Regeneration"?

The history of the Christian Church has seen many errors concerning the new birth. These teachings depart from Scripture by attributing to man the ability to regenerate himself. When these false concepts of man and the new birth are adopted, churches soon become corrupted with false practices.

See full article: Decisional Regeneration by J Adams

Ironically many proponents of decisional regeneration are not too concerned about any fruit of a changed life and reject the essential doctrine of Lordship Salvation

There is an intellectual agreement with the statement that all parts of the Bible are important and connected to all other parts, but there is a practical denial of that
The Myth that what people call "Non-Essential Doctrine" Doesn't Impact Evangelism:

Paul Washer-the 3 min Gospel

Does Richard Dawkins Really Exist?

This hillarious video takes a look at the pathetic arguments of evolution-evangelist Richard Dawkins, who on the Day God "has appointed to judge the world in righteousness" will be "without excuse":



Romans 1:18-32:
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Train & Bus Station Phone Call Preaching-Open Air Where It's Not Allowed.

Ever been to a place you thought would be perfect for an open-air address to preach the Gospel, but it's not allowed? Well here's a way around it, without breaking any laws.

Click on links to play (or Right-Click Save As to download mp3)

Phone Call Open-Air on a Train - 5 min

Open-airing & tracting is not allowed on the train, but there's nothing to stop you making a loud phone call. I guarentee practically the whole train will listen in.

People listen in to phone calls on trains, and that is what happened on this short 7 min train journey.

Phone Call Gospel Preaching in Bus Station - 9 min

Bus Stations full of people are great to Open-Air the Gospel except open-airing and tracting are not allowed. But... there is nothing to stop you making a phone call preaching the Gospel, like in this 8 min "call" (Just for the record, the phone is switched off ;0)). People naturally stop their conversations and listen in. You have a ready made audience waiting to hear.

Evangelism Resources

This series of six on fire mp3 sermons by Paul Washer are something special, and really highlight the Glory of God in Evangelism. (Click on links to play of Right-Click & Save as to down load)

1) Great Men by the Grace of God

2) Being More Like Jesus, God Be Sought Behold His Presence

3) How to Get Saved, Truly Gospel Repentance, True Biblical Assurance

4) How to Witness to the Lost-The Biblical Way

5) Conform to Be Like Jesus Christ in Character

6) Hoop Salvation Kills, Real Salvation Brings Life

Bringing Children to Christ the Biblical Way

by Kevin Williams

Question to parents & churches: "When bringing up a child, which of the following is the most important to have in mind ?
A) Whether they make the soccer team.
B) Whether they do well at school.
C) Whether they get a good career.
D) Whether they have fun.
E) That they will one day stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ.

For many in church today the Proverb 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it" has wrongly come to mean 'dump your child in Sunday School, or in a 'Christian' youth group. But Ephesians 6:4 does not command the church or youth groups (which are often more worldly than the world) to train up your children but for "Fathers" to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Below I suggest seven excellent resources (and I can not recommend these highly enough) to help you bring up children "in the discipline and instruction of the Lord". They are all clearly explained, Biblical, a joy to hear, and also very challenging. Challenging because a lot of what the church practices regarding children today is not Biblical, but is in fact contrary to Biblical teaching, and are really worldly ideas that have infested the church at large.

A lady would buy almost every diet book available, but never lose any weight. The outward impression was that all these books were not worth reading. But after examining the books, it was clear that they were all good and the real truth became apparent that the lady was buying them, maybe even reading them, but not doing them. The point I want to emphasize here is, don't simply listen to these excellent resources and think "oh yes that's good, we need to start doing this and that" but never get around to doing it. It is very important that we "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" James 1:22

The Bible is not silent or vague in its' instruction on how we should raise our children. So neither should we be. The Bible should be our thinking in every area, and we should not follow the ways, psychology, morals of the world in this great responsibility of raising children, but instead be hearers and doers of the clear instruction the Lord has given us in His Word.

(Click on links to play, or Right-Click & Save to Download mp3's)

Kevin Williams
Biblical Principles For The Family-Four Sermon Series.

Dr. Voddie Baucham:
Child Training - 49 min.
Baucham+Washer Q&A pt1.
Baucham+Washer Q&A pt2.

Dr. Voddie Baucham's excellent book Family Driven Faith.

Paul Washer Family Series:
pt 1: Adolesence and Obedience -53 min
pt 2: Honour, the Gateway to Blessings -52 min
pt 3: Responsibility, the Duty of Fathers -49 min
pt 4: Father, Where are You? -52 min

Kevin Williams:
Biblical Principles For the Family-Four Sermon Series

Matt Haney:
Matt Haney-Excellent 3 part Parenting- Children Series.

Also an excellent book: (This goes to the importance of the essential, but often neglected area, of not just modifying your children's outward behaviour, but addressing the heart)
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Trip

See also these Scriptures from The New Topical Textbook by R. A. Torrey for the instruction of raising children:

Parents

• Receive their children from God.
  
  Genesis 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
  1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
  Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
• THEIR DUTY TO THEIR CHILDREN IS
• To love them.
  
  Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
• To bring them to Christ.
  
  Matthew 19:13-14 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
• To train them up for God.
  
  Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
  Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
• To instruct them in God's word.
  
  Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;
  Deuteronomy 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
  Isaiah 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
• To tell them of God's judgments.
  
  Joel 1:3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
• To tell them of the miraculous works of God.
  
  Exodus 10:2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
  Psalms 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
• To command them to obey God.
  
  Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
  1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
• To bless them.
  
  Genesis 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
  Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
• To pity them.
  
  Psalms 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
• To provide for them.
  
  Job 42:15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
  2 Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
  1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
• To rule them.
  
  1 Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
  1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
• To correct them.
  
  Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
  Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
  Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
  Proverbs 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
  Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
• Not to provoke them.
  
  Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
  Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
• Not to make unholy connections for them.
  
  Genesis 24:1-4 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
  Genesis 28:1-2 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
• Wicked children, a cause of grief to.
  
  Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
  Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
• SHOULD PRAY FOR THEIR CHILDREN,
• For their spiritual welfare.
  
  Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
  1 Chronicles 29:19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
• When in temptation.
  
  Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
• When in sickness.
  
  2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
  Mark 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
  John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
  John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
• WHEN FAITHFUL,
• Are blessed by their children.
  
  Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
• Leave a blessing to their children.
  
  Psalms 112:2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
  Proverbs 11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
  Isaiah 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
• Sins of, visited on their children.
  
  Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
  Isaiah 14:20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
  Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
• Negligence of, sorely punished.
  
  1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
• WHEN WICKED,
• Instruct their children in evil.
  
  Jeremiah 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
  1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
• Set a bad example to their children.
  
  Ezekiel 20:18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
  Amos 2:4 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
• Good--Exemplified.
  Abraham,
  Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
  
  Jacob,
  Genesis 44:20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
  Genesis 44:30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;
  
  Joseph,
  Genesis 48:13-20 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. ...
  
  Mother of Moses,
  Exodus 2:2-3 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
  
  Manoah,
  Judges 13:8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
  
  Hannah,
  1 Samuel 1:28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
  
  David,
  2 Samuel 18:5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
  2 Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
  
  Shunammite,
  2 Kings 4:19-20 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
  
  Job,
  Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
  
  Mother of Lemuel,
  Proverbs 31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
  
  Nobleman,
  John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
  
  Lois and Eunice,
  2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
• Bad--Exemplified.
  Mother of Micah,
  Judges 17:3 And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.
  
  Eli,
  1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
  
  Saul,
  1 Samuel 20:33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
  
  Athaliah,
  2 Chronicles 22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.
  
  Manasseh,
  2 Chronicles 33:6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
  
  Herodias,
  Mark 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

How would you feel if your thought life was to be shown on National TV tonight?

If a scientist told you, your every thought from the day you was born has been recorded and not only will it be shown on National TV, but a website will flash across the screen so all of your friends and family can watch all your thoughts regarding them, how many people would be angry with you? Everyone?

Your thought life reveals the real unrestrained you. Most people think they're good enough to get to Heaven and God won't send them to Hell, but God has seen every one of your wicked thoughts and actions. He's seen every-time you've broken His Commandments, lusting over someone you're not married to, every time you've lied, stolen (whatever the cost), every time you've carved a false idol of God in your mind, a corrupt god that will turn a blind eye to your sin. Everytime you've used His Holy Name in vain, using the name of the One who gave you your life in place of a filth word. You wouldn't do that with Hitler's name. The "Lord will not hold Him guiltless who takes His Name in vain," and "for every idle word a man speaks he will give an account of it on the Day of Judgement." And God has written His moral law on your heart so you are "without excuse" you knew it was wrong to lie, to steal, to lust, and to blaspheme because God gave you a conscience to know right from wrong.

Be honest with yourself, when you face God on Judgement Day, baring in mind He's seen your every wicked thought and actions, will He find you innocent or guilty? If God gives you what you deserve, should He send you to Heaven or Hell?

Your conscience demands justice. Imagine in a human court if a judge let a child rapist go free, because he'd given to charity. Yet most people think they can bribe the High and Holy God with their 'good deeds' so He'll over look their sin. What would you think if a human judge said 'I'm loving, so I'll just let the rapist free'? You would not think that judge was loving. Yet most people expect Holy God to be that corrupt with them, and overlook their sin.

Infinite Love and Goodness demands Infinite Justice. Because God's love and justice are infinite He won't just punish murders and rapist, but He'll punish ALL sin wherever it's found. That's why "the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God" "No thief, no sexually immoral, no idolater will enter Heaven" and "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone."

There is forgiveness: The Gospel is this: Imagine you are in a human court room and the judge finds you guilty and because he's just, gives you the maximum fine of £1M, and because you can't pay that fine you're about to spend the rest of your life in jail. Then insteps someone into the court room you've never met and says "I've sold all my worldly goods to pay your fine." Your fine has been paid. So justice has been served and you're free to go. Well 2000 years ago, God became a man in Christ Jesus, was born of a virgin, led a sinless life and then suffered and died hanging on a cross to pay the penalty in full for all your sins, and then He rose again defeating death, so in Him we can have eternal life. "For God so loved the world He gave His Only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

And this is really important: To be forgiven by God and have eternal life, it's not enough to just believe 'intellectually'. You must repent, as Jesus said "unless you repent you will also perish". And repentance is turning fully away from your life of sin and turning fully to God, realizing & being heartfully sorry you've offended God, and crying out to God for His forgiveness and then trusting in Jesus Christ ALONE to save you (not your own deeds), trusting in Jesus willingly standing in your place on the cross, taking God's wrath for you, because He is love. And the moment you do that, give your whole life to Jesus Christ, God will grant you "everlasting life" & you'll be a "New Creation". Forgiven & made right with God, who will give you a new heart to seek the things of God. . And do this today. Don't gamble with your eternal salvation. Every second 7 people die, and you don't know which second will be your last. Read the Bible daily and obey what you read. Start with the Gospels. Seek God until you find Him!

Click on blue link to play (or Right-Click Save-As To Download mp3)
John 6:22-29 - Look Unto Jesus & Be Saved, Seeking God With a Holy Violence-Kevin Williams - 40 min

Listen to this and other Puritan Fellowship Sermons Through i-Tunes.
Puritan Fellowship Sermons.

Are You Born Again? by J. C. Ryle

Are you born again? This is one of life's most important questions. Jesus Christ said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply, "I belong to the church; I suppose I'm a Christian." Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us—many listed in the First Epistle of John.

First of all, John wrote: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (I John 3:9). "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not" (5:18).

A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.

If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (I John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions. He knows that "in many things we offend all" (James 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Second, John wrote: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (I John 5:1).

A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who can pardon his soul, that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven. He believes that, because he has accepted Christ's finished work and death on the cross, he is considered righteous in God's sight, and he may look forward to death and judgment without alarm.

He may have fears and doubts. He may sometimes tell you that he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him if he is willing to trust in anything instead of Christ, and see what he will say. Ask him if he will rest his hope of eternal life on his own goodness, his own works, his prayers, his minister, or his church, and listen to his reply. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Third, John wrote: "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (I John 2:29).

The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Saviour and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton, "I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Fourth, John wrote: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (I John 3:14).

A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.

He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travelers, journeying along the same road. He understands them, and they understand him. They may be very different from himself in many ways—in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father's sons and daughters and he cannot help loving them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Fifth, John wrote: "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (I John 5:4).

A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.

He loves God's praise more than man's praise. He fears offending God more than offending man. It is unimportant to him whether he is blamed or praised; his first aim is to please God. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Sixth, John wrote: "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself' (I John 5:18).

A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.

He desires to live like a soldier in an enemy country—to wear his armor continually and to be prepared for temptation. He is diligent to be watchful, humble, prayerful man. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

These are the six great marks of a born again Christian.

There is a vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different people. In some they are faint and hardly noticeable. In others they are bold, plain and unmistakable, so anyone may read them. Some of these marks are more visible than others in each individual. Seldom are all equally evident in any one person.

But still, after every allowance, here we find boldly painted six marks of being born of God.

How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?

If you are concerned about your savation, listen to this excellent sermon by Paul Washer - The Reality of Regeneration. 50 min. (Click link to play or Right-Click/Save-As to download mp3)