Page 94 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

“Much of what is taught as Christianity today
is “paperback theology.” Leonard Ravenhill

If you have read any of the writings of the late,great revivalist, Leonard
Ravenhill, you know that he often bemoaned the fact that modern-day
theologians are a mere wisp of the spiritual giants of yesterday. Where are
the protégés of old timers like William Gurnall, Charles Finney, Andrew
Murray, E.W. Bullinger, Clarence Larkin, G. Cambell Morgan, and the likes?
Even more recent, where are the likes of Derek Prince, Robert Horton, A.W.
Tozer, Alan Redpath and Watchman Nee? Indeed, they have been replaced
with a cheapened version of “paperback theology”, a composite of half-truths
presented as the whole.

Where are the in-depth, systematic teachers of the totality of the Word of God such as we find in the
apostle Paul? Today’s most popular teachers in America specialize in the limited realm of being either
“faith teachers” or “grace teachers.” However, the Scriptures state its own reason for being:

“…THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION
THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY

INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR
CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY

BE COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”
2 Tim. 3:15-17

No doubt the message of “faith,” as well as the message of “grace” is important. We all know the
quote: “For by grace are you saved through faith…and not of works lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-
9). However, the very next verse tellls us, “…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared before hand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Read the verse above from 2 Timothy
again. It is the same message as Ephesians 2. “Saved by faith…for every good work.”

Although we have much emphasis placed on the need for “faith” and “grace”, what is presented under

these two banners often lacks the fullness of what the Scriptures teach. For instance, faith is reduced

to nifty clichés like “only believe and receive.” How does that stack up against the apostle James

warning:

“BUT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW, O FOOLISH MAN, THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS
DEAD?… DO YOU SEE THAT FAITH WAS WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIS WORKS, AND
BY WORKS FAITH WAS MADE PERFECT?…YOU SEE THEN THAT A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY

WORKS, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY…FOR AS THE BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS
DEAD, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD ALSO.” James Chapter two excerpts

It was the Protestant reformer Martin Luther who became so enraged over these words of the apostle
James that he declared it to be “an epistle of straw” that would be burned up. Is that how we are to
solve conflict in the Scriptures? Just rip out the parts that don’t fit our cherished half-theological
positions? James was only stating that faith is EVIDENCED by our works. Where there are no works
there is no real faith. Read it in context. There is no conflict.

Today’s theology has been reduced to expressions of “clever clichés.” Have you heard this one?
“Faith plus nothing.” Do the apostles agree? Not the apostle Peter:

“TO THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH WITH US BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
OUR GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST…GIVING ALL DILIGENCE ADD TO YOUR FAITH
VIRTUE…KNOWLEDGE…SELF-CONTROL…PERSEVERANCE…GODLINESS…BROTHERLY

KINDNESS…LOVE.FOR IF THESE THINGS ARE YOURS AND ABOUND, YOU WILL BE NEITHER
BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

FOR HE WHO LACKS THESE THINGS IS SHORT-SIGHTED, EVEN TO BLINDNESS AND HAS
FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS.

THEREFORE BRETHREN, BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE,
FOR IF YOU DO THESE THINGS YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE; FOR SO AN ENTRANCE WILL BE SUPPLIED
TO YOU ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.”

2 Peter Chapter 1 excerpts