Well, I have to confess that this sermon leaves me cold. The introduction regarding humanism is excellent. I've researched the subject fairly intensively over the years and can attest to its accuracy. Then we get to his trip to Africa and his discovery that natural man loves his sin. He shouldn't have been surprised. John 3 makes this abundantly clear.
However, then he gets into messages from the Lord and the Spirit moving upon his heart. I always duck for cover when I hear this. It's not that I don't believe this happens. I know it does because it did to me at one point. But, I've also been deceived by my own flesh in similar manner.
He segues into the "cheap salvation" scenario, likening it to humanism in a spiritual context. I couldn't disagree more.
Salvation is, or it isn't. There's no middle ground. We are saved at the instant of belief. And at that instant we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I like John 3 as an expository source for this, although there is certainly much, much more throughout the NT to use. Salvation is by grace through faith. It is the free gift of God lest any should boast (rough quote from Ephesians).
We cannot :"do" our faith, we cannot earn it, we cannot purchase it, we cannot attain it in any way except through belief in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. My Bible says, "Whosoever".
We cannot repent (turn from) our sin by and of ourselves. The Holy Spirit starts doing that when He enters. It's been my experience that this is a long, continuous and arduous process. What is immediate is a sin consciousness, an ongoing process of nipping thoughts, let alone actions, in the bud and confessing before the thought or action is even complete.
I could go on, but I adhere to my original point: salvation is, or it isn't. There's no such thing as cheap salvation (Does this not imply there must be an expensive salvation also?)
Maranatha,
Bob
PS I am reminded of some people of the church of my childhood who were fond of saying, "You don't believe enough."
Frank Molver (28 Apr 2013)
"Steve re worthiness vs strong enough, Ten Shekels and a Shirt"
Very good letter and excellent and powerful sermon, I think it was much better to listen tooYes worthiness is a better term.But for many here it sounds like a salvation issue, like now we have to become worthy by our own works vs salvation by what Jesus did for us. So then we slip into this once saved always divisive issue. So that is why I thought it might be helpful to someBy the way, I do believe we have some very difficult trials comingSo the version I mentioned applies to enduring till the end of those trials.