My dear readers,

1. “Biblical Missions in Perilous Times – III”
(Continuing where we left off on 23 Sept 2007)

The most holy faith speaks of “the simplicity that is in Christ.” We are saved by faith in Christ alone: none but Christ can open to us heaven’s gate. The “preaching of the cross” is the all sufficiency of the Gospel message. In Romans 10:9 the Apostle says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works …” (Eph 2:8 , 9 ). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5 ).

The foregoing passages from God’s Word clearly spell out the grounds for our salvation and the essential content of the Gospel message. This is the “most holy faith” and summed up by the four cardinal pillars of the Reformation: scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, and by Christ alone.

The most holy faith categorically excludes all that is extra-Biblical, man-made, and false. It excludes sacramental salvation, the mediatoral merit of priests and “saints;” it excludes any salvifical role of the church, or the merit of any acts or services for God; it allows no place whatsoever for any sort of “faith” or religion in gaining one’s salvation. Finally, it allows no part for images and idols in worship and it excludes the doctrine of purgatory.

HOW SHOULD WE “DEFEND AND PROPAGATE” THE MOST HOLY FAITH?

In this day of massive and universal defection from the faith God must raise up men of valour, men who are fully committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who are willing to hazard their all for God’s Kingdom in the final stages of the battle for truth.

The Lord must raise up Spirit-filled men, men of discernment, who are able to see clearly the end time issues, to see through the deceptive ecumenical smokescreen, the counterfeit church, the great whore of Revelation 17 : MYSTERY BABYLON and MOTHER OF HARLOTS.

That the end time Satanic church will dominate the earth is inevitable and irresistible. Nothing will stop its progression, foretold in God’s Word (Rev 13 , Rev 17 ).

What then can we do? Our immediate concern is to warn our churches, the souls under our care, so that being forewarned they may be forearmed for the battle ahead. Let us catch the spirit of God’s servant Paul, and his words to the Ephesian elders: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God … For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:27-31 ).

May the Apostle’s words speak to the hearts of God’s faithful servants everywhere. “He who hath ears let him hear.”

Let every pastor, every elder, every leader in the remnant church still holding true to the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, resolve to follow in the steps of the Apostle Paul, to be a good watchman and soldier for God. Clear and forthright preaching and warning must go forth from every pulpit, to the building up of the most holy faith of the believers, so that they understand the issues and the peril of “grievous wolves” seeking to devour the flock of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.

The leader fails in his duty, who fails to urgently warn the flock under his care. Let the words of Paul provoke us unto love and to good works: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim 4:1 , 2 ).

In our propagation of the Gospel heed the Master’s words: “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (Jn 4:35 ).

In the spirit of Paul, let us “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14 ). The door of Gospel opportunity will soon be shut, the day of grace over. The time to propagate the Gospel of Salvation is now. At any moment now we may hear the midnight cry, “The Bridegroom cometh!”

Until then, let us fight the good fight of faith and earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3 ). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph 5:11 ). Have no fellowship with the ecumenical movement or any of its related bodies or individuals. The door of Jesus Christ is the door of separation, the strait gate which leads us on the narrow way which leads to life. Be not disheartened even if no one joins you, because “few there be that find it” (Matt 7:14 ). The way of Biblical separation is a lonely road, but it is the only safe road. At all costs, we must keep clear of the ecumenical broadway that leadeth to destruction.

We are in a mighty race. Let us run with patience, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2 ). Our numbers may be few, but we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1 ), so we need never feel discouraged.

From heaven our Saviour calls: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev 22:12 ).

We must work the works of Him who called us while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. (The End)

Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor