What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live!
Johnny Mac was in the local area Friday night. He was speaking on Luke 15, particularly the parable of the "Prodigal Son" (audio).It was a good message and there's a quote I just have to share:
The gospel of Jesus Christ does not offer the sinner what the sinner, in his flesh, already wants. Any gospel that appeals to what an unregenerate sinner already wants is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unregenerate sinners want health, wealth, prosperity, success, happiness. That’s what sinners in their unredeemed condition want already. The gospel doesn’t come to offer the impenitent sinner what he wants in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The gospel offers the sinner what the sinner must have, which is forgiveness of sins, even if it costs him everything. (emphasis mine)The regenerate person, one born again, wants what this world cannot offer. One born again unto faith desires true life, not the counterfeit of trying to numb the pain with stuff or our best life now.
– John F. MacArthur, Jr.
posted by GUNNY @ 08:46
14 comments
14 Comments:
A good word . . . and an even better movie line.
You don't eat cookies???!!
My mom didn't bake. Only store bought.
"Stranger Than Fiction"
Wow, I got it before Oilcan - I've been waiting for that for a while now.
Go figure? - You mean there is more to my life than just getting what I want?! There is usually a serious change in gears when a person realizes that their life isn't meant to be lived for themselves. Maturity (physically or spiritually) isn't about age - it is about attitudes and actions. This is clearly given in the BE-attitudes.
BING!
#1 answer!
You did well, though Oilcan's not been bringing his "A Game" lately. Still, a win's a win and it counts the same in the record column.
SCOREBOARD!
And you're right about those attitudes of how we are to be.
What about "the God shaped hole in your heart" Gospel presentation the missing passion that keeps you chasing other things (drugs, sex, prestige)? Wouldn't that contradict this? Or what about "you have it all but you are missing Jesus" add Him as the the icing on the cake Gospel presenatation. Or here is one I heard on a radio program the other day: "Jesus died of a broken heart for you, doesn't that move you"?
I have heard many reformed brethern use the first one, not so much the last two.
Makes you ask, "Have you met anyone recently who might loathe the very core of you?"
That would be a great bit for 'Theology on Thursday'. ;)
This may seem like gibberish to you, but I think I'm in a tragedy.
Lionel,
I think people are searching, but what they want is not God. In that sense, people are seekers, but they're not seekers after God (cf. Rom 3).
I think it's valid evangelistically to tell folks they will never be satisfied apart from Christ, but unless their hearts are changed by the Spirit, they will not seek satisfaction in Him.
The way I like to put it is that most people seek the benefits God offers (inner peace, for ex.), yet no one seeks God.
Amen... well said Pastor MacArthur.
Great quote!
Yogi
I too have been listening to that bit on Mac. Is it the tale of two sons? I have switched to full time preaching on my radio ever since Klove started their pledge drive. I haven't switched back. I have been listening to Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, Johnny Mac, Ed Young Sr., Pastor Paul on a regular basis whenever I am in the car.
I like Mac, he's easy on the ears. Some pastors have good messages just not good voices. NOt that this is what I look for, it's just some capture my attention better with their delivery. What is called, rhetoric?
I like Adrian Rogers' message, I just don't care for his voice. Something hits my ears funny and bothers me.
with his land and his resources and he wasn't even consulted.
Actually I wake up to Johnny Mac each day. He is on from 6-6:30 am. That's probably NOT when you listen though. Today was a good one.
Yeah, that was the 2 sons bit. He said something to the effect of condensing that series into one night's worth of love.
I feel your pain on the pledge drive bit. We have a local station that seems to be in perpetual pledge drive mode.
I can't handle it.
What about the Pipe? (as Lance calls him) Do you have Desiring God on the radio down there?
My favorite radio slooge:
1. John Piper
2. RC Sproul
3. Johnny Mac
Honorable Mention: Alistair Begg and J. Vernon McGee
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