The sad history of the decline of evangelicalism has been achieved by the infiltration of churches. There are now so many allowing themselves to be taken to Rome, or into the Charismatic Movement, or into worldliness and contemporary worship. Shouldn’t we all agree with each other and ignore our differences? What do doctrinal distinctions matter? That careless attitude amounts to leaping over this warning of Christ. The church is now a regenerate body of people and no longer a mixed multitude. We cannot go back to Old Testament order. It did not lead to spiritual worship then, and it would be now.
We can also apply this to the matter of assurance. How can I be sure I am a believer? What applies to the false prophet applies to you. If you cannot answer these questions, then you need to positively seek the Lord.
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1. Do I believe in the Lord, in his word? I do. Okay, says Satan, but that doesn’t mean you are a Christian.
2. Have I sought him? Has there been a time in my life when finding him was more important than anything else, and did I persist until I had found forgiveness and new life?
3. You lament sin, but is that just out shame before men, or do you have a conscience about it? The worldling has a conscience, but he is not troubled nearly as much: sin is a small matter to him.
4. Do I have concern to obey the truth? Is God’s law now written on my heart, and is there now a battle in progress against the old nature?
5. Would I prefer to go back to world? The true Christian may face trials in following Christ, but he does not want to go back to what he was before.
6. What do I hate my sin? Do I love God?
7. Do I pray – the false believer does not pray reverently to a Father in heaven who reads his innermost thoughts.
8. Do I have reverence and fear for God. The Charismatics boss the Spirit around, but in Scripture, we see the saints fall on their faces before the Lord.
There must be these new sensitivities.
}