Page 66 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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Clearly James is addressing the brethren. If any among the brethren wonders from the truth and another
brother turns him back, he will be turning a SINNER from the error of his way and will cover a multitude
of sins. Notice that James does not consider the sins of this erring brother to be already forgiven. How
will they be forgiven? By turning him away from his sin. It is worth mentioning again that such a turning
away from sin is the true seal of the solid foundation of salvation:

“…THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS, HAVING THIS SEAL: ‘THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO
ARE HIS,’ AND, ‘LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.’ ”
2 Timothy 2:14-19

Over the centuries, a proper emphasis upon turning away from sin has been lost. Consider how the
Book of Acts describes the blessing which Jesus came to bestow:

“TO YOU FIRST, GOD, HAVING RAISED UP HIS SERVANT JESUS, SENT HIM TO BLESS YOU,
IN TURNING AWAY EVERY ONE OF YOU FROM YOUR INIQUITIES.” Acts 3:26

It is the desire of this teacher of God’s Word to also persuade you to deal thoroughly with sin in your life

as it occurs. We need to confess our sin to God and to turn away from it as clearly stated in the Psalms

and in Proverbs:

“FOR I WILL DECLARE MY INIQUITY; I WILL BE IN ANGUISH OVER MY SIN.” Psm. 38:18
“HE WHO COVERS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER,

BUT WHOEVER CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL HAVE MERCY.” Prov. 28:13

Spurgeon was eloquent with words. However they were the words of men and not in harmony with the
Word of God. Spurgeon’s fluency of words often reminds me of Job’s three friends. They too were
eloquent in their long dissertations about God (Chapters 5-25). However, God recorded of them this
charge:

“…THE LORD SAID TO ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE, ‘MY WRATH IS AROUSED AGAINST YOU AND YOUR TWO
FRIENDS, FOR YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF ME WHAT IS RIGHT, AS MY SERVANT JOB…LEST I DEAL WITH

YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF ME WHAT IS RIGHT,
AS MY SERVANT JOB HAS.” Job 42:7-8

Spurgeon and his modern-day, fellow Calvinistic protégées are also guilty of not speaking what is right

about God as God’s servants the apostles did.

We have only looked at a few examples of

the teachings of the apostles pertaining to

sin in the life of the believer. Which is WORD OF GOD

going to judge us in the last day?

Spurgeon has said:

“When God forgives He draws the mark PAUL JOHN PERTAINING JAMES PETER
through every sin which the believer ever TO SIN
has committed, or ever will commit,.
…When God forgives, He not only forgives WHICH WILL JUDGE YOU IN THE LAST DAY?
all, but once for all. . . . By one sacrifice
there is a full remission of all sin that ever WORDS OF MEN
was against a believer, or that ever will be
against him…not a single sin shall ever SPURGEON PERTAINING
stand against you, nor shall you ever be TO SIN
punished for a single sin; for every sin is
forgiven, fully forgiven, so that not even
part of the punishment shall be executed
against you”

God’s Word paints a different scenario as God’s people face the Righteous Judge on Judgment Day:

“THEREFORE WE MAKE IT OUR AIM…TO BE WELL PLEASING TO HIM, FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR
BEBFOODRYE,TAHCECJOURDDGIMNEGNTTOSEWA.HTAOTFHCEHHRAISSTD, OTHNAET, EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN THE
WHETHER GOOD OR BAD. KNOWING THEREFORE,
THE TERROR OF THE LORD, WE PERSUADE MEN.” 2 Cor.5:9:11

Let us be a people who, in this life, deal thoroughly with the issue of sin! In our next newsletter, we shall
further examine the false gospel known as Calvinism.