What Shall it Profit a Man if He Gain the Whole World....

An article written by an atheist:) If I firmly believed as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, then religion would mean everything to me. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep. I should labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life suffering. Earthly consequences would never stay my hand or seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon Eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would sow forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season and my text would be “what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

Lord, it is my prayer that you will help me to live like this....

Christian Sanctification May be Different Than You Think

   Photo taken at Red Rocks in Morrison, Co

                                            

 Sanctify them through Thy truth. — John 17:17

How can the love of truth sanctify us? Isn't sanctification just avoiding sin and trying to do good? No, it isn't. The doing or not doing isn't the question...that isn't what sanctifies. The very strange thing about Christianity is that it is different from other religions...very different. Actually Christianity turns religion on it's head. We as fallen people, born into sin resort to thinking that if we are "good" then we are right with God and will go to heaven. The Bible says something entirely different; it says no one can be good enough, no one can establish a righteousness of their own. We fight to be right, to make ourselves appear good and not evil. But we are evil -- the Bible says our righteousness is as filthy rags. The beautiful reality is that the remedy has been provided for us by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The only righteousness that saves is the righteousness that is imputed to us by Christ. It is a free gift -- we cannot earn it. 

Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon below. He reveals this wonderful truth that says the love of it is what sanctifies. Truth informs; it dispels the darkness and it sets us free!

"Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into man that new living principle by which he becomes "a new creature" in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two ways-mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued and kept under; and vivification, by which the life which God has put within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. This is carried on every day in what is called "perseverance," by which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state, and is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and it culminates or comes to perfection, in "glory," when the soul, being thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed which must not be forgotten. "Sanctify them," said Jesus, "through thy truth: thy word is truth." The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Do not say of any error, "It is a mere matter of opinion." No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God."

Say yes to the truth, say yes to God.

God bless you today,

Mtn Girl