Sunday, August 22, 2004

Humanism and Faith and Humility

A solemn Warning!

Is the Christian strength in the Lord, and not in himself? Surely then, the person outside of Christ must be a poor, impotent creature, helpless to do anything to effect his own Salvation. If a living tree cannot grow without sap from the taproot, how can a rotten stump, which has no root, revive itself of its own accord? In other words, if a Christian imbued with God's grace must continually rely on His strength, then surely the one outside of God's grace, dead in trespasses and sin, can never produce such strength in himself. To be unregenerate is to be impotent. "When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (ROM 5:6)

Acts 16
³⁰He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

Acts 2

²¹And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The philosophy called humanism has long been a suitor to mans pride. It boasts in his natural strength and wisdom, and woos him with promises of grand accomplishments now, and heaven later. God Himself has scattered such Babel-builders and proclaimed His pre-eminence for eternity. Confounded for ever be such sons of pride, who trust in the power of nature as though man with his own brick and mortar of natural abilities were able to make a way to heaven! you who are yet in your natural state, would you become wise to salvation? Then first become fools in your own eyes. Renounce this carnal wisdom which cannot perceive spiritual things, and beg wisdom of God, who gives without rebuke. (James 1:5)

Philippians 4
¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Here is a word for Christians. Knowing your strength lies wholly in God and not in yourself, remain humble--even when God is blessing and using you most. Remember, when you have your best suit on, who made it and who paid for it! God's favour is neither the word of your own hands nor the price of your own worth. How can you boast of what you did not buy? If you embezzle God's spirit and credit it to your own account, He will soon call an audit and take back what was His all along. Even when He seems most generous with your Spiritual allowance, He still keeps the account in His own name and can at once reduce you to Spiritual poverty if you misappropriate His grace.
Walk humbly therefore, before God and manage well the Strength you have, remembering that it is borrowed strength. What kind of man will waste what he begs? Or who will give to a pauper who squanders what he has already been given? How can you look God in the face and ask for more if you mis-spend what you have already so graciously received?

Philippians 3
³For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--

Posted by a once humanistic God-hater, now a God-fearing, crazy Calvinist.

Text from William Gurnall's The Christian in Complete Armour Vol 1

8/22/2004 01:42:00 am ::