I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy SpiritI say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,
3 sermons cite this verse
An objection answered. The objection is, “If we are apprehensive of the damnation of others now, it in no wise becomes us to rejoice at it, but to lament it. If we see others in imminent danger of going to hell, it is accounted a very sorrowful thing, and it is looked upon as an argument of a senseless and wicked spirit, to look upon it otherwise. When it is a very dead time with respect to religion, and a very degenerate and corrupt time among a people, it is accounted a thing greatly to be lamented; and on this account, that at such times there are but few converted and saved, and many perish. Paul tells us, that he had great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart, because so many of the Jews were in a perishing state: Rom. ix. 1, 2, 3. “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” And if a neighbour die, and his death be attended with circumstances which look darkly as to the state of his soul, we account it a sorrowful thing, because he hath left us no more comfortable grounds to hope for his salvation. Why, is it not then an unbecoming thing in the saints in glory to rejoice when they see the damnation of the ungodly? …
… Amen. Here is a man who is saying, I am willing to go to hell in order that all Israel may be saved. I want you to understand that in this message, I'm not expecting everyone to respond by saying, Lord, give me the minister of intercession. But all of us should have a ministry of intercession, that is bringing others before God in prayer. There are some people who are called to a ministry of intercession. That's their life calling. That's their work. That's their ministry. All of us should be in prayer. All of us should be praying for many things. But there are some people whom God calls to the ministry of intercession. But on the other hand, all of us have and should have a ministry of intercession that is bringing other people. We should begin with our own family, our children. Then there are many other people for whom you and I are going to pray. But it's one thing simply to pray for someone, but it's something else to begin to intercede in their behalf before Almighty God. …
But oh, you ungodly, if He will deal thus with His children, how will He deal with you who are not His children? If He means to bless you, He will not let you go unpunished, but He will smite you with heavy strokes. I remember one who used to bless God for a broken leg—he said that he never ran in the ways of God until he was lame. I believe that some parents never loved the heavenly Father till their dear infant child was taken away. The shepherd tried to get the mother sheep into the fold, but she would not come, so he took up her lamb and carried it away in his arms—and then the mother followed him! He has done that to some of you. You would never have come to Christ if dear little Johnny had not gone Home to Jesus. You lost one and another for that same purpose—have you not had enough strokes? You have been smitten till your "whole head is sick and your whole heart faint." Will you not turn unto your God without more ado? His blows are sent in mercy! It is far better that you should have a Hell here than Hell hereafter! It were better for you to live a lifelong agony than to be cast into Hell forever! Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved! He died for sinners—died for aggravating, guilty, willful sinners! And if they look to Him, they shall at once be forgiven! I cannot give the look of faith for you, or I would gladly do so, but I beseech you to look and live! May God the Holy Spirit lead you to do so, for Jesus' sake! Amen. …