Sword & Trowel 2017: Issue 1
times when wrong is made right, and right is made wrong. Evil is making unprecedented progress – the signs of the times. We can see it in all the anti-morality legislation, and the antagonism towards biblical moral teaching. We have seen through it, and this is a great sign of the work of grace within us. So we must reject all temptation to befriend the culture of this world, lying under the condem- nation of God.
6 GOODNESS TO OTHERS Among the lines of reasoning em-
ployed by the apostle to show the work of conversion in our lives is an unusual one, taking the form of an exhortation. It is in 1 John 3.18-19: ‘My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.’
The apostle speaks here
about compassion and doing good to other believ- ers, colleagues and family, whatever their needs, and shows that this is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit within. Have we had a mysterious and dramatic change of heart? Has the urge and desire been strangely formed in us to do good and to help other people?
Not long ago, perhaps,
someone would ask about our career intentions and we would answer in terms of what we would earn, what we would enjoy, or what status we would secure from a possible line of work. But now all that concerns us is what good it will do. What will be the point of it? Suddenly it is not all for me. A new way of thinking is op- erating within us – what is best, what is noble, what is worthwhile. We did not bring this about. We did not accomplish it. We did not change our thinking from selfi sh to useful, it was the Spirit of God, and now we can say, ‘God has put better standards, values and concerns into me.’ We have heard it said many times
from a parent about converted off- spring, ‘He is so different at home.’ It may be that he now helps with the dishes and it seems as a miracle. Son
God’s Love for Muslims by Pastor Ibrahim Ag Mohamed, and Nearly a Christian, an updated version of Around the Wicket Gate by C H Spurgeon, have been translated into Russian. (Available in the UK from the Tabernacle Bookshop.)
The Dissolving of Doubts page 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
