Fighting the Four Evils

A much-needed article on being ready to forgo all earthly comfort: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-if-god-takes-it-all-away

Many local churches teach the dangerous doctrine of 'once saved always saved'. This is a false doctrine. While it is true that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6), one must not only persevere in the faith in Jesus Christ as the whole book of Hebrews exhorts. One must constantly guard against abandoning one's faith in Christ to go back into the world.  Hebrews 11:14-16 warns the follower of Christ not to go back into the world: For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. Even those listed in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith were tempted to go back to the world, to seek earthly riches, g...

The story of the rich young ruler recorded in Matthew 19:16-22 with parallel accounts in Mark 10:17-27 and Luke 18:18-23 is a very sobering one. Many people in the modern Church read it and skim over it, thinking that there is no lesson in it for them. In particular, they think that the commandment to give up all one has for Christ is only a commandment for the rich young ruler. They love to point out that one does not need to sell everything one has to follow Christ, and make an argument by saying that Jesus did not say people need to literally sell all one has to become homeless or impoverished. However, Jesus makes no such statement. Such a statement simply a legalistic statement which seeks to miminalise Christ's command for self-denial, by the unrighteous use of the law, demonstrating a miminal love of Jesus. There is no guarantee or promise by God to followers of Christ that they will be rich Biblically meaning that one will live a comfortable life whatsoever. Do not be ...

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh ! (Matthew 18:4-7)  Many in the modern Church are causing their fellow saints to stumble by their vain speech and idle babbling, all without knowing. The Bible has much to say about speech. Speech itself has an effect on the hearer, not merely emotionally or psychologically, but spiritually. Indeed, " death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21). The mere listening to, or in the case of the internet, the re...

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (Romans 8:13). Jealousy and envy are the most pervasive sins. They are the sins which literally every person commits, including 'moral and decent' people who do not indulge in sexual immorality, live lifestyles of crass materialism, and practice drunkenness. Such things are vile sins and deserve death, but so are jealousy and envy, which are sins of the flesh: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5) Just like the sins of sexual immorality, one must put to death jealousy and envy, or else one will die and go to Hell. The Bible commands us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13). So, how can one put to death the sin of jealousy and envy? 1.  Wholeheartedly pursue God and His Kingdom, and not your ow...

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;   Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (Ephesians 5:3-7) The modern Church rightly condemns sexual immorality, as an abomination to God. Yet, the sin of covetousness receives no where near the same condemnation as sexual immorality of all kinds, be it fornication, adultery, or pornography, with the exception of the sin of homosexuality which many in the modern Church are reluctant to condemn as an abomination. Covetousness is in the same category of sexual immorality. L...