December 2015

Following Jesus 170

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ wherein we can overcome doubt and despair? To begin with and in light of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, the follower of Jesus must think correctly upon the promises of God. The follower of Jesus must think correctly, or foster correct thinking, by reading and meditating upon the Word of God.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ wherein we can overcome doubt and despair? To begin with and in light of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, the follower of Jesus must think correctly upon the promises of God. The follower of Jesus must think correctly, or foster correct thinking, by reading and meditating upon the Word of God.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 169

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ wherein we can overcome doubt and despair? To begin with and in light of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, the follower of Jesus must think correctly upon the promises of God. The follower of Jesus must think correctly, or foster correct thinking, by reading and meditating upon the Word of God.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ wherein we can overcome doubt and despair? To begin with and in light of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18, the follower of Jesus must think correctly upon the promises of God. The follower of Jesus must think correctly, or foster correct thinking, by reading and meditating upon the Word of God.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 168

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ? 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 says…

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

What can we learn from our personal pressures and persecutions because of Christ? 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 says…

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 167

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

Doubt is not trusting. It is not being committed to live for God, to acknowledge dependence upon God and to not worship the One, True God of the Bible in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Doubt is uncertainty and having a lack of conviction for what you believe and to what and to whom you are committed. It is no longer having confidence in what God has promised in His Word.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

Doubt is not trusting. It is not being committed to live for God, to acknowledge dependence upon God and to not worship the One, True God of the Bible in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Doubt is uncertainty and having a lack of conviction for what you believe and to what and to whom you are committed. It is no longer having confidence in what God has promised in His Word.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 166

In John Bunyan’s classic allegory Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and his companion Hopeful, at one point in their journey, stepped aside from the true Way into By-Path Meadow because it looked easier and seemed to be going in the same direction as the Way. Soon they realized their mistake and began the journey back towards the Way. As they traveled, they slept one night on the grounds of a castle. But it turned out that this was Doubting-Castle, owned by Giant Despair. When the giant found them, he threw them into his dark and nasty dungeon, and they suffered terribly.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

The Castle of Doubt and the Giant of Despair. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 165

God not only warns His children about Vanity Fair, and the inherent wickedness of Vanity Fair, but also about the worthlessness of Vanity. I John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away with its desires. But the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Vanity Fair is not eternal. It is temporary. It will cease to exist and will disappear. A force and authority greater than the world will make this happen. That force and authority is the sovereign God of the Scriptures.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

God not only warns His children about Vanity Fair, and the inherent wickedness of Vanity Fair, but also about the worthlessness of Vanity. I John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away with its desires. But the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Vanity Fair is not eternal. It is temporary. It will cease to exist and will disappear. A force and authority greater than the world will make this happen. That force and authority is the sovereign God of the Scriptures.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 164

God not only warns His children about Vanity Fair, and the inherent wickedness of Vanity Fair, but also about the worthlessness of Vanity. I John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away with its desires. But the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Vanity Fair is not eternal. It is temporary. It will cease to exist and will disappear. A force and authority greater than the world will make this happen. That force and authority is the sovereign God of the Scriptures.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

God not only warns His children about Vanity Fair, and the inherent wickedness of Vanity Fair, but also about the worthlessness of Vanity. I John 2:17 says, “The world is passing away with its desires. But the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Vanity Fair is not eternal. It is temporary. It will cease to exist and will disappear. A force and authority greater than the world will make this happen. That force and authority is the sovereign God of the Scriptures.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 163

Not only does God warn followers of Jesus to not love the world, but He also warns believers to neither love the things that are in the world.

Often times, preachers, pastors and churches have encouraged their membership to shun all manner of items of presumed worldliness. For example, Christians have often been persuaded to not own a television, a radio, a cellular phone or a computer. These items, in and of themselves, are not evil. However, they can be used for evil purposes as well as for good and God honoring purposes. The decision followers of Jesus face on a daily basis is making sure their choices and selections in using these instruments glorify God.

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

Not only does God warn followers of Jesus to not love the world, but He also warns believers to neither love the things that are in the world.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Following Jesus 162

Vanity Fair, or the hostile world system, is under the dominion of Satan (John 5:19; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). The world is his sphere of influence. In much the same way, the spirit of the antichrist which is coming, is even now, already in the world (I John 4:3) along with many false prophets who have gone out into the world (I John 4:1). Vanity Fair, the world, is an all-inclusive term for all those who the in the kingdom of darkness and have not been born of God (John 3:3).

Following Jesus: The Progress of the Pilgrim.

Vanity Fair, or the hostile world system, is under the dominion of Satan (John 5:19; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). The world is his sphere of influence. In much the same way, the spirit of the antichrist which is coming, is even now, already in the world (I John 4:3) along with many false prophets who have gone out into the world (I John 4:1). Vanity Fair, the world, is an all-inclusive term for all those who the in the kingdom of darkness and have not been born of God (John 3:3).

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

Your Help is Still Needed

Your support of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals makes a big impact.

The Cambridge Declaration notes “Churches today are increasingly dominated by the spirit of this age rather than by the Spirit of Christ.” This is still true today.

You are part of the bold initiative of bringing about a Reformed awakening that James Boice launched almost 30 years ago. Your prayers, participation, and financial support allow the Alliance to continue this important work. I thank you.

Your support of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals makes a big impact.

The Cambridge Declaration notes “Churches today are increasingly dominated by the spirit of this age rather than by the Spirit of Christ.” This is still true today.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.

Reformation Societies is a fraternal of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. It is supported only by its readers and gracious Christians like you. Please prayerfully consider supporting Reformation Societies and the mission of the Alliance.

PLACE FOR TRUTH

A Greater Blessing and a Greater Kingdom

Reformation 21

Pleading for Sodom