When to stand apart

There can be no unity without the truth of the Scriptures to guide us otherwise men can make up their own boundary lines of what is good and right or sadly what is wrong doctrinally due to a weakness or otherwise of not correctly dividing the Word of Truth.

Key verses:

‘Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints.’ Jude 3.
‘Now these things brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against another.’ 1 Corinthians 4:6.
‘Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.’ Colossians 1:28.
‘If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 14:37.
‘Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth.’ Galatians 4:16.
‘… Keep the words of this Book.’ Revelation 22:9.
‘Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.’ 1 Corinthians 16:13.
‘Preach the word” Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ 2 Timothy 2:15.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones and Billy Graham.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones refused to work with Billy Graham! Why? Because in 1963 Billy Graham the evangelist, asked Dr. Lloyd-Jones to chair the first World Congress on Evangelism which was eventually held in Berlin in 1996 and was the predecessor to the organisation called Lausanne. (This organisation has been leavened and weakened as the last days progress).
Dr. Lloyd-Jones told Billy Graham that if he would stop having Roman Catholics and Liberals on his platform and drop the ‘invitation system’ he would support and chair the Congress. Billy Graham sadly rejected this proposal and would not change his views, and so Dr. Lloyd-Jones in all good conscience declined to endorse or commend or work with the evangelist.

It is on record that Billy Graham later met the Pope and received and accepted an honorary doctor’s degree from the Roman Catholic Belmont College in the USA. He told the audience that “the Gospel that founded this College is the same Gospel which I preach today!”
Many a true evangelical disciple who has discernment and knows the doctrines and history of Rome (Mother Church) would object and point to the errors of their doctrines of men and demons. Membership and the sacraments, indulgences, et al do not save they bind people into an ascetic lifestyle of false doctrines. Religious rules and regulations coupled with relics and rites will lead to an empty faith. The truth sets us free but the truth has been altered within modern bible versions, added to by the Bishops of Rome and in their Popes in whom there is no hope! It is a sad affair that many have compromised in the name of unity (John 17) and have been weighed and found wanting by true Bible believing Christians who stand with the reformers in Sola Scriptura – The Scriptures Alone. They are from a Holy God who alone is God and He has the right to make His rules and we have no right to break them.

Billy Graham is still hailed today by many unaware evangelical Christians as one of the greatest evangelists of history and yet he was ecumenical working with Rome even sending new believers but in reality mainly ‘decision makers’ to Catholic Churches if this was the nearest church to their home.

The Invitation System operated by Billy Graham did not produce lasting results. He admitted that around 80% of those who gave a decision for Christ were not going on with the Lord within 2 years. Some fell away quite quickly. Salvation belongs to God it is His gift of grace and mercy through faith imparted and so conversion is by the Holy Spirit convicting sinners to repent. A change takes place and by their fruits we shall know them. The anointing breaks the yoke. Emotional appeals or ask Jesus into your heart simply do not work! Why? Because the Gospel we are taught is the power of God unto salvation. Nothing can be added and nothing taken away otherwise those who do so will give an account before the Lord Jesus.

The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call “a temporary faith” or “a false profession.” There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger!

To conclude the remnant, the elect of God will not waver nor meander, the road is a narrow one that we walk. We will show love but insist on true biblical unity through what is written.

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