You Are In Danger

Here is another excerpt from Mark Driscoll's Heaven and Hell sermon.

Hell Was Made To Protect Us

There has been a lot of talk over the last few weeks about the reality of Hell, of whether Hell is eternal, and if anyone will actually go there; or since God is love will we all just end up in Heaven?

Well the Bible tells us that Hell is a real place and that there are many who will end up there. But Hell was not created for people. As Mark Driscoll points out in this clip, Hell was created for the devil and his angels, at its purpose it to protect us.

God loves us, but God is also holy and He is just. Therefore sin must be paid for. We can either pay for it ourselves in Hell, or we can humbly come to Jesus in repentance and faith accepting the payment that He made on the cross. My prayer is that you do the latter.

How The Elect Are Called

The Flood Came And Swept Them All Away

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to have been alive in the days of Noah? Have you ever thought that the story of the Flood was just that - a story? We have been talking a lot about the judgment of God lately in a Bible study that I am a part of, and it is good for us to remember that God has judged the world in the past, and that He tells us that He will do so again. Jesus said:

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Matthew 24:36-44

But there is hope! The Bible tells us:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17

And

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13

Take a few minutes to watch this video, and then praise our God that He has made for us a way of escape in His Son, Jesus Christ.

And if you don't yet know Him remember, "now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is “the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b). Cry out to Him in repentance and faith the He promises that He will save you.

The Danger Of False Prophets

Here is another excerpt from J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, this time warning us about false teachers and showing us how we are to guard ourselves from the "wolves in sheep's clothing"

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

Matthew 7:15-16

Of these verses J.C. Ryle writes:

We are to "beware of false prophets." The connection between this passage and the preceding one (Matthew 7:12-14)) is striking. Would we keep clear of this "broad way?" We must beware of false prophets. They will arise. They began in the days of the apostles. Even then the seeds of error were sown. They have appeared continually ever since. We must be prepared for them, and be on our guard.

 

This is a warning which is much needed. There are thousands who seem ready to believe anything in religion if they hear it from an ordained minister. They forget that clergymen may err as much as laymen. They are not infallible. Their teaching must be weighed in the balance of Holy Scripture. They are to be followed and believed, so long as their doctrine agrees with the Bible, but not a minute longer. We are to try them "by their fruits." Sound doctrine and holy living are the marks of true prophets. Let us remember this. Our minister's mistakes will not excuse our own. "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch."

What is the best safe-guard against false teaching? Beyond all doubt the regular study of the word of God, with prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The Bible was given to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm. 119:105.) The man who reads it aright will never be allowed greatly to err. It is neglect of the Bible which makes so many a prey to the first false teacher whom they hear. They would have us believe that "they are not learned, and do not pretend to have decided opinions." The plain truth is that they are lazy and idle about reading the Bible, and do not like the trouble of thinking for themselves. Nothing supplies false prophets with followers so much as spiritual sloth under a cloak of humility.

May we all bear in mind our Lord's warning! The world, the devil, and the flesh, are not the only dangers in the way of the Christian. There remains another yet, and that is the "false prophet," the wolf in sheep's clothing. Happy is he who prays over his Bible and knows the difference between truth and error in religion! There is a difference, and we are meant to know it, and use our knowledge.

J.C. Ryle

We would do well to remember this warning and we should always pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance whenever we open our Bibles or sit under the preaching of the Word. After all, Jesus warned us that we are to be aware of the false teachers, and if we are led astray by them it is as much our own fault as it is theirs.