Truth is ancient; it's grey hairs may make it venerable;
it comes from Him who is the ancient of days. --Thomas Watson

 

4 May, 2007   comments: (0) Today's Evangelism   Our 'Abundant Life' Should Impact Evangelism    Quoting William Gurnall . . . "A feast is made for laughter," Solomon wrote (Ecclesiastes 10:19). I am sure God intended His children to be joyful in the feast of Christ's Gospel. In the Old Testament, mourners were not allowed to sit at God's table. Since a saint's gloom reflects unkindness on God Himself, how can we recommend His satisfying love if it does not satisfy us? The world thinks the Christian life is depressing anyway, a dry meal where very little wine of joy is tasted. Why will you confirm their deception, Christian? Why should they have your example as evidence against Jesus and his Word which promises peace and joy to everyone who comes to this table? God forbid that your behavior, which should hold forth "the word of life" and demonstrate the reality of it in the eyes of the world, ever disagree or throw doubt on His Word (Philippians 2:16). It is a gross error for Rome to teach that we cannot know Scripture as God's Word except by the testimony of the church. Yet a practical testimony from Christians' lives has great authority over the consciences of men to persuade them of Gospel truth. They can believe it is good news when they can read it clearly in a cheerful life. When unbelievers see Christians sad as they hold the cup of salvation in their hands, they suspect the wine is not so good as preachers say it is. If traders to the Indies returned poorer than than they were when they began, it would be hard to convince others to venture to that place, regardless of how many golden mountains might tower there. Christian, do not give unbelievers reason to imagine, by seeing you limping through the race, that they must forfeit happiness if they become Christians and spend the rest of their lives in a house of mourning, with a team of losers. Is Christ's Gospel full of abundant life or not? Then do not go into debt with the world to soak up it's carnal benefits; you need never leave God's house to be made glad. From:  The Christian in Complete Armour, (year 1665)   Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.667   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism