In this day of infidelity, there are very few people who are not affected, either directly or indirectly, by divorce. Every few days I get calls, letters, or visits from people whose homes are being destroyed by a husband or wife who has chosen to abandon his or her family and vow of lifelong love and loyalty, because they are no longer happy, or in love, or they want to be free. Forgetting, for the moment, the lives that are devastated by such selfish behavior, let me remind you of what God says about this matter.
As the first covenant, or testament, had ordinances of divine service, which are shaken, removed, and abolished; so the New Testament, or gospel dispensation, has ordinances of divine worship, which cannot be shaken, but will remain until the second coming of Christ: these, as Austin says,1 are few; and easy to be observed, and of a very expressive signification. Among which, baptism must be reckoned one...
Though the body dies, and when it dies, the soul dies not; it survives the body, and not only lives after it, but lives for ever, it never dies: though the body without the soul is dead, yet the soul without the body is not dead; when the body returns to the earth and dust, from whence it sprung, the soul returns to God, the immediate author and giver of it: the body may be killed by men, but not the soul; no man has any power over that, none but God that made it: the soul is immortal...
There are several passages of scripture, which, at first sight, may seem to countenance the universal scheme; and which are usually brought in support of it; and which it will be necessary to take under consideration: and these may be divided into "three" classes...
Having treated of the object of worship, and distinguished worship into internal and external; and having considered internal worship as it lies in the exercise of various graces; I now proceed to consider external worship, both public and private: and first public worship; and as public worship is carried on socially in a church state, I shall begin with considering the nature of a gospel church, the seat of it. The word "church" has various significations, which it may be proper to take notice of, in order to settle the true sense of it, as now to be discoursed of.
People who visit our services here in Danville frequently observe that we have no religious symbols, pictures, or icons of any kind: no pictures of Jesus, no crosses, no pictures of saints, no angelic images. Our people do not wear guardian angels on their lapels, crosses around their necks, or other symbols and badges of religion to show their devotion and spirituality. Occasionally, I am asked why? People observing this stark contrast between us and others often wonder, "What’s wrong with religious pictures, symbols, images, and icons?" Let me briefly show you.
Whenever the Bible doctrine of election is presented to those who reject the Bible's teaching of God's sovereignty in salvation you can be sure that John chapter three and verse sixteen will be trotted out in defence of their position. I have come to the conclusion that there are only two reasons for this.
The apostle Paul spoke of a day in which men and women would, "turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:4). The day of which Paul spoke has come upon us! Here are three religious fables, doctrinal fabrications, by which the hearts of men are almost universally deceived.
When free-will preachers offer salvation to all they invite an act of faith on the part of the sinner and a life changing "decision for Christ". They deny the sovereign choice of God in salvation, ignore the everlasting covenant of grace and contradict the clear testimony of scripture that the elect are justified from eternity. Here are ten arguments to show such preachers that God's chosen people are not merely saved by grace in time but accepted in Christ from everlasting.
Is the faith of our fathers living in your life? In your church? We sing the song: "Faith of our fathers living still..." and no doubt the faith is living. But the question is, "Where is that faith living and confessed?"
