SPF 165: Reformation Is Now: Gone Are The Days of Cultural Christianity
Gone are the days of cultural Christianity. Now what? The time is ripe for Reformation! Let’s Ad Fontes - Go back to the source and put our hope in Jesus Christ.
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Reformation Resources
She Proves Faithful Podcasts on the Reformation:
The Five Solas of the Reformation: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode17
The Reformation Spark: http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode57
Reformation Women: http://www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode58
Our Part in Reformation: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode59
Women of the Reformation: Katherina Von Bora: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode101
PreReformers: Wycliff and Hus: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode134
Reformation vs Revolution: www.sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode160
Reformation Celebration Ideas:
10 Reformation Videos for Kids: https://www.homeschoolingmykinetickids.com/2017/10/10-reformation-day-videos-for-kids.html
Reformation Day Resource Roundup: https://www.reformedmama.com/blog-1/reformation-day
Reformation Day Fun: https://www.proverbialhomemaker.com/reformation-day-fun.html
Luther Video by Ligonier.org: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VK0p-tuuao&feature=youtu.be
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SPF 164: Should Christians Care About Politics - With Guest Allie Stuckey
Should Christians care about politics? Are politics and faith at odds with each other? I have so many questions especially in light of this up coming election, that I invited Allie Beth Stuckey from the Relatable Podcast to answer some of my burning questions about politics.
Show Notes: sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode164
Support $5 a Month: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful
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Christians and Politics
Today’s guest: Allie Beth Stuckey
Website: https://alliebethstuckey.com/
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6HUhXbF0dPutdhbnLnxRQZ
Book: https://alliebethstuckey.com/book
“Politics affects real life people because policy and politics affect the lives and rights of real live people.”
“The question becomes who tells us what right and wrong is and who is the authority who instituted the government and what is the government’s responsibilities?”
Because there are other biblical spheres of government (self, family, and church) we need civil government to give us freedoms to be faithful in those other spheres.
Other Podcasts and Talks on Christians and Government
Samuel Sey Slow To Write Blog: https://slowtowrite.com
“Were Christian Abolitionists Wrong?” Samuel Sey article: https://slowtowrite.com/were-the-christian-abolitionists-wrong/
Crosspolitic - This is a weekly podcast with godly men discussing current events while giving biblical commentary that will make you want to fight, laugh, and feast. (fight for the Gospel, that is ;)
Crosspolitic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4uUKeRmjQQbtgXYeZYmofg
Resistance, Revolution, Reformation, and Romans (13 that is) - Key Note by Douglas Wilson at the Grace Agenda 2020 Conference (one of my favorite talks on current events in light of Romans 13): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLIIP32tSGE
The Biblical Vision of the Founders - Key Note by Gary DeMar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOL-YSaqNdg
Does God’s Law Apply to Us? - Sweater Vest Chronicles with James White and Douglas Wilson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETm_wdEnLTA
Sword and Trowel Podcast - Founders Ministry - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC73IkqTseO-dI1qVuqrJ16A
Resources
SPF 163: Speaking the Truth in Love
How does one speak truth with love? Today I’m going to share some wisdom from Psalms and Proverbs about the words we use to engage people thoughtfully, lovingly, and purposefully.
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Speak the Truth in Love
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Ephesians 4:15
Here’s what I gather speaking truth in love means in this Scripture:
Speaking truth in love is about maturing in Christ, growing up in our faith and knowledge of the truth of Christ so we are deceived, so we aren’t tricked by human cunning or bad doctrine, or schemes of wicked men.
Speaking truth in love is about making Christ the head - He’s the authority. Not me, not man.
Speaking truth in love is about maturing so we can be united, equipped, and working properly so the body of Christ can grow and not just be a big family, but a big family that loves.
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” -
CS Lewis The Weight of Glory
Morning and Evening - Charles Spurgeon
"Grow up into him in all things."
Ephesians 4:15
Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not "grow up into him in all things." But should we rest content with being in the "green blade," when we might advance to "the ear," and eventually ripen into the "full corn in the ear?" Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, "I am safe," without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven's market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men's vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus in his presence ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope yea, in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveler; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit's light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp, snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven.
Resources
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SPF 162: Truth in a World of Lies
The truth will set you free. Truth equals freedom, But that doesn’t mean you won’t meet critics, cynics, or naysayers when we love truth and abide by it. So what do we do? Today we are talking about Truth and some obstacles to knowing it, and ways we can prove faithful in clinging to it.
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Truth in a World of Lies
Let’s look at Jesus in Scripture to get our bearings about truth and what we can do in a world of lies.
In John 1:14 we learn that Jesus came to earth - the word became flesh and dwelt among us - full of grace and truth. Jesus came being full of truth.
In John 14:6 Jesus calls himself The Truth.
In Matthew 22:16 Jesus’s ministry is characterized by teaching the way of God in truth.
Jesus is the Truth, came bearing the truth, and preached the truth - He is the definition of definitive truth.
Truth vs Relativism
Worldly view of truth: Your truth is your truth, my truth is my truth.
When Jesus is on trial before Pontius Pilate, he says to Jesus “what is truth?”
Relativism might make it seem that people are abivielnt, and some might truly be, but there is a growing hatred of the truth. Because it knocks up against the idols and pride of people.
Hubris
Hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence. This excessive pride, or arrogance often leads people to a false belief that they can do no wrong.
Hubris can lead people to create their own systems of justification.
Hubris leads people to create their own morality divorced from God’s law.
Psalm 36
For with you is the fountain of life, in your light do we see light. Psalm 36:9
Jeremiah 2:13
John 1:9
Satan
Crafty and deceitful.
Casts doubt on God’s Words
Casts doubt on God’s kindness
Casts doubt on God’s authority
Hold to the Truth
Through knowledge and good interpretation.
Through being separate from the world.
Resources
Table Talk Magazine ($3 an issue): https://tabletalkmagazine.com/
(Referenced the November 2020 issue on TRUTH)
SPF episodes on Biblical Interpretation:
SPF 161: Courage
There is a lot of work to be done as a faithful believer and woman of Christ, but how do we get up the courage to do some of these tasks, especially the ones that aren’t popular or exalted by the world’s standards. Today I am going to share a few insights on courage and a few practical ways we can grow in being courageous.
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Courage
Definition from 1828 Webster Dictionary:
COURAGE, noun [Latin , the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.
COURAGE that grows from constitution, often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty, acts in a uniform manner.
Be strong and of good courage Deuteronomy 31:6.
If courage grows by how we feel, feelings change. When we are supposed to be courageous we may not feel like being courage, even if the courageous thing is the good thing to do. However, if we know what our duty is, we know what our responsibilities are toward God and others, those things don’t waver like feelings. we can be resolute to do those things regardless of how we feel because we are trusting in God’s holy word and not our deceptive hearts.
Courage is bravery to act that grows from a sense of duty. For the Christian, we are called to be strong and of good courage because our confidence is in the Lord and in His commands. We know what our duties are as Christian women according to the Word, and we put our trust in the Lord and do them.
Psalm 112
2 Chronicles 31-34
Courage in 2 Chronicles
There were many kings who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord - here are some things we can learn about courage from them:
They sought the Lord.
God established the work of their hands - the results weren’t up to the Kings. They were called to be strong in the Lord and to fear Him and obey Him. And when they did there was success.
They used the knowledge they had from the law, and the word from prophets to share with others to encourage them.
Morning and Evening - Charles Spurgeon
"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings."
Psalm 112:7
Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved his faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?
Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?
Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Resources
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SPF 160: Revolution vs Reformation: What's the Difference and Which One Brings the Best Change?
What’s the difference between a revolution and a reformation? Today we are exploring the differences and how to be a part of a trajectory of God-glorifying, Kingdom building change.
Ways to Support SPF
Enjoying the SPF Podcast?
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Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
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Check out my Amazon Storefront - it’s full of all my recommended resources and categorized for ease of finding just what you are looking for! Plus with every click and/or purchase, you support the podcast! See the store here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sheprovesfaithful
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Revolution vs Reformation
Links
Rules for Reformers - first chapter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWT6_ACPDZw
Q&A with Rules for Reformers author, Douglas Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVDPMCKeNbo
Understanding What Is Happening in America: A Christian Response (article by Larry Alex Taunton): https://larryalextaunton.com/2020/07/understanding-what-is-happening-in-america-a-christian-response/
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinksky: https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Radicals-Practical-Primer-Realistic/dp/0679721134
Rules for Radicals Rules: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_Radicals
2 Chronicles 15 https://www.esv.org/2+Chronicles+15/
SPF 159: Judgement of the Lord & Divine Forgiveness
There are small judgements of the Lord and there will be a final judgement. What do we do in either case? You know I like a good message on repentance and belief. Today we will be looking at the Prophet Joel in the Old Testament and see how the message of repentance applies to us even now.
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Judgement and Divine Forgiveness: Joel
Sermon clip from New City Church series on Joel AUDIO:
http://newcitydenver.buzzsprout.com/270730/5032040-repentance-o-t-style-joel-1-13-2-11
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BcTW4xHCQM&t=1634s
One of my favorite quotes:
"I have a controversial epic statement. . .
God won't bless sin.”
“All Christians are eternally forgiven, but if you as a Christian think you can wallow in sin and manage sin and not deal with it through repentance and belief and think you will be blessed - you're crazy.”
That’s the crux of gospel centered living - it’s turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, away from our sin, to receive the grace and mercy of the Lord and live for Him and His glory.
Psalm 32
The title given to this Psalm is literally blessed are the forgiven. Not blessed are those who keep on sinning.
What happened when David kept silent?
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
That does not sound like blessing. I mean, it’s a blessing in the fact that it’s a wake up call to come to the Lord, but it is a life that lacks the fullness of joy and relief that flows from grace and mercy.
Instead David found blessings in the repentance of his sin:
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
Psalm 32:5
David's grief for sin was bitter. Its effects were visible upon his outward frame: "his bones waxed old"; "his moisture was turned into the drought of summer." No remedy could he find, until he made a full confession before the throne of the heavenly grace. He tells us that for a time he kept silence, and his heart became more and more filled with grief: like a mountain tarn whose outlet is blocked up, his soul was swollen with torrents of sorrow. He fashioned excuses; he endeavoured to divert his thoughts, but it was all to no purpose; like a festering sore his anguish gathered, and as he would not use the lancet of confession, his spirit was full of torment, and knew no rest. At last it came to this, that he must return unto his God in humble penitence, or die outright; so he hastened to the mercy-seat, and there unrolled the volume of his iniquities before the all-seeing One, acknowledging all the evil of his ways in language such as you read in the fifty-first and other penitential Psalms. Having done this, a work so simple and yet so difficult to pride, he received at once the token of divine forgiveness; the bones which had been broken were made to rejoice, and he came forth from his closet to sing the blessedness of the man whose transgression is forgiven. See the value of a grace-wrought confession of sin! It is to be prized above all price, for in every case where there is a genuine, gracious confession, mercy is freely given, not because the repentance and confession deserve mercy, but for Christ's sake. Blessed be God, there is always healing for the broken heart; the fountain is ever flowing to cleanse us from our sins. Truly, O Lord, thou art a God "ready to pardon!" Therefore will we acknowledge our iniquities.
Resources
Sermon clip from New City Church series on Joel AUDIO:
http://newcitydenver.buzzsprout.com/270730/5032040-repentance-o-t-style-joel-1-13-2-11
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BcTW4xHCQM&t=1634s
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 158: Being Lights with Our Attitudes - Complaining vs Cheerfulness
How do we prove faithful with our attitudes when the weather is ripe for grumbling? Today we are going to look at how to turn a heart that grumbles to one that is full of faith and full of cheer.
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Attitude: Grumbling vs Cheer
Grumbling against God is an attitude of unbelief.
A lack of faith means we are not believing who God says He is. If we are not having faith in God and His promises, then we are trusting in other things.
Sometimes we are so persuaded something else is better than what God says that we are will to submit to the pain and misery of sin than to trust God. When we trade God’s words for the words of the world or the words of the enemy, we will find ourselves inevitably grumbling about something.
Take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ:
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Be a Light
Grumbling is a language of the world. It is the language of the enemy.
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16
We actually shine as lights when we have cheerful dispositions and move about our days with kindness and thankfulness.
Look at the contrast here - our attitudes have the ability to shine against a backdrop of crookedness and twistedness. Crooked means perverse and wicked, twisted means to distort and oppose - to turn away from the right path, and even plot against the saving purposes and plans of God. That is the world we live in - darkness. And when we have attitudes that are cheerful - not because we are manufacturing smiles or because we are ignoring hard things or pretending, but because we have hearts that are rooted in the promises of God and are trusting in Him, we are lights to this world that needs Christ.
Charles Spurgeon
“We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.”
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening Devotion
Lights are used to light something up
Lights are used for guidance
Lights are used for warnings
Lights are cheerful
Proving Faithful with our Attitudes
When I feel like complaining
1. Stop & Repent
2. Give Thanks
3. Remember the promises of God
4. Get busy and do something
Patreon supporters - get your free print out here: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful
Resources
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 157: Do Hard Words Produce Soft Hearts?
Proverbs says A soft word turns away wrath, but does that mean our words should always be soft?
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A Case For Hard Words
“Hard Words produce soft hearts and soft words produce hard hearts.”
Characteristics of Hard Words
Full of truth
Elevate God and His commands
Firm against evils
Direct
Gracious as we all are sinners
The Goal of hard words:
the goal is for people to follow the Lord and not deceptive sin or lies Soft hearts lead to a love of God and His commands (not to be a “sin sniffer” or to be self-righteous)
Leads to work for the Lord - when our hearts are soft, we are ready to do the work of God and not busy ourselves with fruitless endeavors.
To glorify God and build His church
This Desiring God article is called Polite Villains of the Universe and Greg Morse is addressing some villainy that we miss sometimes - Christian tone police who find themselves siding with the godless culture than with the Truth of the Word.
Mr. Morse says this:
“This makes one of the common arbiters of truth today, even adopted by many within the church, such a perilous one: tone. Our flesh gravitates toward friendliness, inspiration, coddling, affirmation. Nice blasphemy, spoken between stories of one’s family, is more popular and better received by some professed Christians than plainly spoken Christian truth about sin and unbelief. Paint with rich blues and yellows, and it matters little what lies you tell; speak the truth, and you must keep your voice pleasant and unthreatening.”
Tone should not be an arbiter of Truth. Truth is truth. Can we say something with gentleness and respect? Yes. But Saying something true might not always come across, no matter how we say it, as gentle to a world that hates God and His commands.
He Goes on to say:
“Those who make it their business to faint and complain at every verbal shot fired against error, why do you aid and abet the blasphemers? No sooner do the faithful speak than you come by to hush them. Should we whisper to a sleeping world? Should we pretend we do not believe what we say? Should we never speak to be heard or glow with anger at the wolves’ treatment of the sheep? While the sons of hell spew their heresies into the microphone without censure, must the sons of God be kept to inside voices? Can Christians never reprove, rebuke, or exhort? Is nothing at stake but impropriety?”
The world has a narrative that is opposed to God. The world is loud. The world is demanding. The world is unforgiving. So when we say things and the world gets upset, it doesn’t mean we are saying the wrong things or even say the right things in the wrong way. - https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/polite-villains-of-the-universe
Another podcast that addresses this: Plodcast 153: How Liberalism Grows
SPF 156: Psalm 26, Morning Time, Sweet Grace - Al La Carte
Today I’m sharing a collection of things that I’ve been learning and doing. It’s a delightful mash up that’s biblically minded.
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Al La Carte
Bless the Lord - Psalm 26
How can we show the Lord our adoration and trust?
Be devoted to Christ by Being Devoted to Christ
David was willing to bring everything about him tot he Lord and it be tested SO THAT he could conform to the Lord’s way.
A devotion to Christ looks like a willingness to say the way I think or do things may not always be right.
David asked to be corrected because he knew God had the better way. The way of truth, goodness, and beauty. The way of LIFE.
Hanging with those who love Christ
The people we hang out with will influence us. WE need to be hanging out with those who are willing to fight sin, fight for holiness, and fight for the mission of God.
Morning Time
Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins
“If you have something that you want your children to assimilate like poetry or scripture or music or Shakespeare, forget the grand schemes, forget what the Konos mom is doing down the street, start giving that thing one or two minutes of your time daily and watch the years roll by.” pg 79
Spurgeon - God’s Sweet Grace
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"
Romans 8:33
Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried away. There is no sin in God's book against his people: he seeth no sin in Jacob, neither iniquity in Israel; they are justified in Christ forever. When the guilt of sin was taken away, the punishment of sin was removed. For the Christian there is no stroke from God's angry hand; nay, not so much as a single frown of punitive justice. The believer may be chastised by his Father, but God the Judge has nothing to say to the Christian, except "I have absolved thee: thou art acquitted." For the Christian there is no penal death in this world, much less any second death. He is completely freed from all the punishment as well as the guilt of sin, and the power of sin is removed too. It may stand in our way, and agitate us with perpetual warfare; but sin is a conquered foe to every soul in union with Jesus. There is no sin which a Christian cannot overcome if he will only rely upon his God to do it. They who wear the white robe in heaven overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and we may do the same. No lust is too mighty, no besetting sin too strongly entrenched; we can overcome through the power of Christ. Do believe it, Christian, that thy sin is a condemned thing. It may kick and struggle, but it is doomed to die. God has written condemnation across its brow. Christ has crucified it, "nailing it to his cross." Go now and mortify it, and the Lord help you to live to his praise, for sin with all its guilt, shame, and fear, is gone.
"Here's pardon for transgressions past,
It matters not how black their cast;
And, O my soul, with wonder view,
For sins to come here's pardon too."
Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening App
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