My God and My Country

Evening Reflection

“Furthermore, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are worthy love, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, or if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians 4:8

I should preface this by stating this is a very long series of study for evening reflections. If anyone is interested I can provide a link upon request, wherein one might take the time to read for themselves the study in it’s entirety. 

Ad Episcopus Aegypti et Libyae - Athanasius

Chapter One Part Three

Edited by RPW Sr. 

 3. Satan pretending to be holy, is detected by the Christian (continued)

And although, again, he conceal his natural falsehood, and pretend to speak truth with his lips; yet are we are not ignorant of his devices 2 Corinthians 2:11,' but are able to answer him in the words spoken by the Spirit against him; 'But unto the ungodly, said God, why do you preach My laws?' and, 'Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner. ' For even though he speak the truth, the deceiver is not worthy of credit. And whereas Scripture showed this, when relating his wicked artifices against Eve in Paradise, so the Lord also reproved him—first in the mount, when He laid open 'the folds of his breast-plate ,' and showed who the crafty spirit was, and proved that it was not one of the saints , but Satan that was tempting Him. For He said, 'Get behind Me Satan; for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve Matthew 4:10.' And again, when He put a curb in the mouths of the demons that cried after Him from the tombs. For although what they said was true, and they lied not then, saying, 'You are the Son of God,' and 'the Holy One of God Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24;' yet He would not that the truth should proceed from an unclean mouth, and especially from such as them, lest under pretence thereof they should mingle with it their own malicious devices, and sow these also while men slept. Therefore He suffered them not to speak such words, neither would He have us to suffer such, but has charged us by His own mouth, saying, 'Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps' clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves Matthew 7:15;' and by the mouth of His Holy Apostles, 'Believe not every spirit 1 John 4:1.' Such is the method of our adversary's operations; and of the like nature are all these inventions of heresies, each of which has for the father of its own device the devil, who changed and became a murderer and a liar from the beginning. But being ashamed to profess his hateful name, they usurp the glorious Name of our Saviour 'which is above every name Philippians 2:9,' and deck themselves out in the language of Scripture, speaking indeed the words, but stealing away the true meaning thereof; and so disguising by some artifice their false inventions, they also become the murderers of those whom they have led astray.

Editor’s thoughts - This is my greatest fear in the Christian world today. There are many, who, no matter how sincere they may be, are diluting the Word of God. Many denominations are bowing to demands of man to be tolerant and accepting of all divers of sin. This confounds and perverts what God says on many subjects. Are we to love the sinner? Yes with all certainty, but we are also to alert them of their sin, and to guide them from their ways. In the Gospel of John we read in chapter 8:11;
 “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.”
We cannot condemn, but we can discern, and correct. 

As mentioned above, too many are not preaching from the perspective of God’s Word.  There seems to be a “new” gospel, that suggests, that to coin a phrase “it’s all good” just be a good person, and you’ll make it.  This is NOT what God has said, it is ONLY through the blood of Jesus that we can come through salvation.