Featured "The Gospel" - What Is It?

Well, I don't remember ever not believing in God. Of course, that doesn't exactly say much about me:

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

 

I like how Joseph Irons describes the Christian life and the warfare within it. I certainly find it so in my life.

"If it is of no use to attempt the reconciliation of the world to the Church, or the Church to the world, neither is it of any use to think of reconciling the corruptions and depraved inclinations that dwell in old Adam-nature, with genuine spirituality.

Might I here, for one moment, invite your attention to some of the failures which have followed such attempts. You go into your closet; you take your Bible; you read portions of the Holy Scriptures; you prostrate yourselves before the throne; you pour out the most earnest breathings that God will make you more like to Christ, and teach you how to live nearer unto Him. It is a delightful occupation, it is a fine practice, you cannot be in a better posture than Daniel's, on your knees and the palms of your hands. But does not nature follow you there? Does not some bargain or matter of business haunt you, and do you not think more about that than of what you read? Do not foul corruptions stir within you, so that you feel more like a demon than a Christian? Do not the cares and anxieties of this wilderness state lead your thoughts to wander from God? If this is not the case with you, all I can say is, that the devil deals with you more kindly than he does with me. Do what I can, I find that he will accompany me. If he can enter my closet by no other way, he will through the keyhole, and the door cannot be opened, but he is sure to squeeze himself in, however small the aperture left. You cannot bid the world or its corruptions be still, even for half-an-hour, whilst you are in fellowship with God. The two are irreconcilable. If you, any of you, boast of the perfection of the flesh, I will put it to the challenge; for I am sure that you never spent half-an-hour in your lives without wandering from God; nor do I believe any man out of heaven, be he whom he may, who tells me that he can. Sure I am that you must want the armour of God. I know that you must go all the way to heaven at the very point of the sword. God's words are so. He bids us put on "the whole armour of God." Then make up your mind to this one thing, that your business in the world is to engage in the warfare. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:15-17) and there must be war."

- Joseph Irons, sermon entitled, "Perpetual War", preached on October 15, 1848, at Grove Chapel

 

Good words by William Mason from his devotional for February 23 in A Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God, Volume 2 on Ephesians 5:8:

"Hence we look down upon the world with contempt, upon sin with abhorrence, upon Satan with defiance, upon carnal men with pity, and up to our Lord with love and praise; for “we have an unction from him, and know all things.” (1 John 2:20) His truths are our delight. “His commandments are not grievous!” (1 John 5:3) Here is all comprised in one word, Walk as children of the light. But how shall I know I am a child of light? Strange question! Just as strange as for a person with his eyes open, in midday, to ask, How do I know I can see? But if you do not enjoy the comfort of light, it is because you do not walk as a child of light. There are many such dark walkers. No marvel, they are uncomfortable professors. Paul wept on account of such. See them described: “they mind earthly things.” (Philippians 3:19) They have a tongue for Christ, but the world has their heart. Beware of such: refrain from such. For, “If we say we have fellowship with Christ, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)"

 

Yep. James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.