Richard Alan Edwards: 2015

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Reading the two volume set on George Whitfield by Calvinist Baptist pastor Arnold Dallimore who hailed from Canada is the most exciting reading I have ever completed. He did more research on George Whitfield, John and Charles Wesley, Howell Harris, the Moravians and their true doctrinal distinctions, Jonathan Edwards and many others who became part of the Great Awakening of the 18th century, both in the United Kingdom and in the New America.

I know the experience of Whitfield's salvation experience and of his walk with God as it has happened to me. What a humble man filled with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. I am jealous of him with a godly jealousy, as I love to speak the gospel and study the Word of God. He was, throughout his life extremely careful of the leading of God in his life. For me that has been somewhat of a mystery in my life. I have always struggled with being able to discern God's true leading in my life. Nevertheless, I prayed about my decisions and just moved forward in faith.

I have experienced in my salvation what he experienced; nevertheless, I am very well aware that Whitfield was given special natural and spiritual gifts by the Lord to discipline his body, preach from early in the morning until late at night. To see how people almost worshiped him, wherever he traveled to preach is an amazing sight to behold. He was a man who gave away to others nearly everything he had, showing his benevolence . He cared for the poor, cared for the orphans, cared for the slaves and defended them, started churches for the slaves and they loved him. His sincerity and love for Jesus Christ was unblemished. You could hardly slow him down, in fact he probably ended his life early for not taking sufficient rest for his body. This was a man of tears, a man who knew weeping. He was a man who knew what a night of prayer was. George Whitfield became friends with the elite on both sides of the Atlantic and associated with the lowest in society all to win them to Christ. In all of history, he was as close to being a disciple of the Apostle Paul as anyone else who ever lived. If I pastored a church, I would teach them how to evangelize, and my one requirement would be that they purchase this two volume book on George Whitfield.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Why We Must Study Theology

My dear friends,

It is with great affection toward you that I write this little treatise. I have compassion for you all in the mercies of Jesus Christ. The God of all mercy wants you to know Him personally and has made the way for you to know Him. Let me make one obvious statement to you. You must know that if God is our creator, then he has called you to repent and believe in the gospel. He has not left you to flounder around being under the sentence of death by the covenant of works (ten commandments) without providing a way of escape through the atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. This atonement satisfied the law of God and made a complete propitiation (imputation) for our sins. Being made aware of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God wishes not that we should die eternally in hell; he calls us according as his manner is; Repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15)

Theology properly understood is nothing other than the study of God and his revelation of Himself to us, so that we can know Him. Study involves time, involves deep thinking and meditation on Him, his being, character, attributes and any and all revelation of Himself to us. This by far is the most sublimest of studies a Christian can be involved in. As one grows in grace this becomes ones' all consuming passion. He in zeal, given to him by the Holy Spirit wants to tell others of this gospel of Jesus Christ and inform them of the joy he has found in knowing more and more about God.

Let us go back a moment and understand what the word repent means particularly in the new testament scriptures. In Ezekiel 18:27-32 we have a clear description of what repentance is. It involves a break, a turning away from iniquity or transgressions or sins. As the LORD says if we turn, we live. John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism, "you generation of vipers who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Bring forth, therefore fruits meet for repentance. "Meet for" signifies: "befitting", "congruous with" ,"corresponding with" repentance. Mt. 3:7-8.

What Consumes Your Mind?

What consumes your mind more than anything else? Who is in your thoughts most during day and night? What book do you read more than any other? All books are fallible and written by man, nevertheless, if the Lord Jesus Christ, the creator of all things ever made whether they be in heaven or earth told you; I have written down my words which I spoke for you to follow; these words are words which give you eternal life, they show you how you should live during your time here, what you should beware of; how you should live your life. These words are the words from the mouth of God, they show you truth and error and show you what I expect from you while you live on this planet. My plan for your life if you follow it will give you more happiness, peace and joy than you could ever get on your own. You will receive ETERNAL LIFE and live FOREVER in my presence. He then says to you, "Repent and believe the gospel" Mark 1:15; Mark 2:17; Mark 6:12; Mark 8:34-38. So my dear friends read the Bible, let it consume your time, let Jesus Christ fill your mind and thoughts knowing he died on that cross for his people. He said come to me all you who are heavy and laden with sins and I will give you rest. God who cannot lie has this waiting for you.

THE LIMITED WELCOME OF JESUS CHRIST

What if today you received an invitation inviting you to have dinner with the most admired person of a Royal family? For instance, King Solomon, Queen Elizabeth, George Washington, or Abraham Lincoln ,or whoever you could name. Would you accept and believe the invitation was authentic and go to the dinner, however unworthy you feel, whatever socio-economic class you are in, whatever race, religion or ethnicity you might be? You have been invited by the Creator God, the most Royal person in the world to have ever lived. Why would you turn down such an invitation. This Creator God is going to make you worthy to sit at His table, he is going to cover your socio- economic embarrassment by giving you one of His own Royal robes. What if the language of this Royal individual was different than yours and you sensed you might have nothing to say to this person? Would you still go if he promised you a part of his kingdom and any desire that you wanted? Now those desires would be stipulated by His rules you understand.

So now, you are at the dinner. Imagine if you were a person who had nothing to say to this person of Royalty and education. Maybe you were at the bottom of the socio-economic level, you had accomplished nothing in life, you had no sense of self worth and absolutely zero to offer this person. You were speechless while sitting at the table of this Royal gentleman. This would be very humbling, extremely embarrassing, would it not? Yet now, something has suddenly changed!!!

This Royal Person is totally interested in your little life. He did not want to talk about all His accomplishments, but wanted to ask you, about you. This person is interested in your life. How different would that be? That would be unexpected and outside your normal experience with other people, right? Then that person of wealth, honor and priveledge and glory said, "ALL THAT I HAVE IS NOW YOURS", you will inherit what I have. You would be shocked at such a statement and ask, what do you mean by that? So, would you accept it, believe it, or would you proclaim: "It cannot be true, you are a liar"!!! I really do not believe you and will not have you reign over me, you shout.

You have heard clearly the offer that was made you.

Now we relate this metaphor to Jesus Christ who came from the highest of royalty and has existed before time began, was the person who created the worlds, the infinite space, the infinite galaxies and the infinite stars. In fact, there was never a time He has not existed. In fact, time has always been and that is one thing he never created. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God". This person of royalty had hundreds of prophecies written about him by many prophets describing the circumstances, time and city of his birth. There are literally hundreds of prophecies about Him. No one can deny these or disprove them. He was born as a human over 2000 years ago to a woman who was a virgin. He lived a perfect life, never sinning and overthrew all of Satan's attacks. He died for the sins of the whole world. He died for you.

It was said by one author John, that if all the things that Jesus Christ did were all written down, that the whole world could not contain the books that should be written.

Would you, Could you, Should you say after never finding anything against Him, say, "You are some sort of Liar, a Lunatic, or a deceiver of billions of people since mankind began?

Jesus Christ, say it out loud, I dare you to shout it out loud. Call to Him and beg for His pardon. Accept that He died in your place receiving in His own body your suffering for your sins. You have sinned against an infinite Creator and a Perfect God. If you turn away, YOU will never be in His presence but forever be away from His presence because an Infinite God demands an Infinite and perfect sacrifice for your sin. Can you pay that price? No one can. We do not even know nor could we comprehend the infinite demands of God. We must meet His perfection in everything we do. None of us can be as perfect as God. Only His own Son who has never sinned can become your righteousness in God's view. After three days of being dead Jesus Christ rose from the grave. He rose up of His own power and appeared to thousands for a period of 40 days.

He says, "Come to me and I will give you rest." Rest for your souls. He is the Great Physician. God, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth is inviting you to come and is welcoming you to an eternal supper with Him. Will you come? Will you scoff? Will you doubt? Most of us will not say we hate Him we are just indifferent. Will you throw your hands up in the air and say, "I well never let this person rule over me", I hate Him, I reject Him, I call Him a liar!

Or, will you receive the Royal invitation and the Welcome of Jesus Christ? Come to Him as that person who is at the bottom of the socio-ecnomic class, a person who has nothing to offer, a child with no pride, a brokenhearted person. Tell Him, He is listening. Trust Him and believe what He said about Himself and come to His table as a humbled person. He will not accept you otherwise. Call on His Name and He will save your soul. Repent and believe and lay your life down and He will save you. Read the book of St. John on your knees.

INFINITY

This English word is a derivative of infinitas (Latin) which means "unboundedness", without end, beyond human ability to number or even conceive. It is not a number or a concept, therefore it would have to be defined by someone who could understand it. We have tried in philosophy, mathematics, cosmology and theology to explain it the best we can. All our attempts are futile because we live in time and those who live within a boundary that is earthly cannot comprehend any idea or word or principle outside that boundary.

One of the many reasons men cannot think of God is that they are His enemy. They all have chosen to rebel against Him unless His divine providence interupts that process. He has divine retribution planned for each of us at His judgement. Man always is the center of His own universe and everything revolves around Him. Everything revolves around us. After all, are we not at the top of the food chain? In Western egalitarian civilization our view of God is smaller than small. Secular Humanism built upon Darwinism and Uniformitarianism have become our prevalent religion and we worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. We have taken in these non-logical, silly, spurious heresies which have supplanted the need for a God. How could God create the world in six literal days and rest on the seventh? A limited view and comprehension of the Infinite God is replaced. Get outside of time and find a place of solitude where you can focus on the infinte. Go somewhere without taking anything with you. Get alone. Get away from people, the rush, the TV, the internet and meditate on Time and Eternity and God Himself.