behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism. I have come to think that religion has caused more harm than any other idea since the beginning of time." Larry Flynt (publisher of Hustler magazine, in his autobiography An Unseemly Man) CHAPTER 3 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
"At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people."
PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.
He that loves not his brother abides in death.
15 Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
4:8 The Firefighters Imagine seeing a group of firefighters polishing their engine outside a burning building with people trapped at a top floor window. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with cleaning a fire engine—but not while people are trapped in a burning building!
Instead of ignoring their cries, the firefighters should have an overwhelming sense of urgency to rescue them. That's the spirit that should be behind the task of evangelism. But according to Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, "Only 2 percent of believers in America regularly share their faith with others." That means that 98 percent of the professing Body of Christ are "lukewarm" when it comes to obeying the Great Commission (Mark 16:15).
Oswald J. Smith said, "Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected." We have polished the engines of worship, prayer, and praise and neglected the sober task given to us by God.
A firefighter who ignores his responsibilities and allows people to perish in flames is not a firefighter; he is an impostor. How could we ignore our responsibility and allow the world to walk blindly into the fires of hell? If God's love dwells in us, we must warn them. The Bible tells us to "have compassion ... save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jude
22,23). If we don't have love and compassion, then we don't know God—we are impostors (1 John 4:8).
Charles Spurgeon said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." Please, examine yourself to see if you are in the faith
(2 Corinthians 13:5). Don't be part of the great multitude who called Jesus "Lord," but refused to obey Him. It will be professing believers who will hear those fearful words,
"I never knew you: depart from me"
Backward Christian Soldiers Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight With the cross of Jesus nearly out of sight.
Christ, our rightful master, stands against the foe But forward into battle, we are loathe to go.
Like a mighty tortoise moves the Church of God Brothers we are treading where we've always trod.
We are much divided, many bodies we Having many doctrines, not much charity.
Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain.
Gates of hell should never 'gainst the Church prevail We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail.
Sit here then ye people, join our useless throng Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song.
Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King With our modern thinking, we don't do a thing.
(Anonymous) If God is speaking to you about your lack of evangelistic concern, pray something like this now:
Father, please forgive me for my lack of love for this dying world. From this day forward I will strive to be a "true and faithful witness." Please give me the wisdom to know what to say to reach the lost. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
QUESTIONS & OBJECTIONS 5:10 "I find it difficult to have faith in God."
If you don't believe someone, it means you think that he is a liar. The Bible says that those who don't believe God accuse Him of lying. Martin Luther said, "What greater insult
... can there be to God, than to not believe His promises." See Hebrews 11:6 comment.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
3:12 "The cool impudence of Cain is an indication of the state of heart which led up to his murdering his brother; and it was also a part of the result of his having committed that terrible crime. He would not have proceeded to the cruel deed of bloodshed if he had not first cast off the fear of God and been ready to defy his Maker." Charles Spurgeon 3:13 Hypocrisy in the Church. It's interesting to note that the world hates hypocrisy in the Church. They detest the "pretender." Does that mean that they want the Christian to be genuine? Do they want us to be true and faithful in our witness and therefore speak of sin, righteousness, and judgment? Do they want us to live in holiness rather than in compromise? Does the world