I listen to a lot of sermons. They are easily brought up on the internet. Sometimes I listen to two or three, or more, a day.
John MacArthur is a gentleman in Panorama City, California, who has had a radio broadcast – now global – since 1977. Both his church and his radio program are entitled “Grace To You.” I have just finished listening carefully to a 54 minute taped radio broadcast by John MacArthur entitled “Understanding the Believer’s Battle With Sin.” He based his sermon on Romans 7, verses 14 to 25. Several times I hit the pause button and reversed the tape and listened again carefully to something he said. So, actually, it took me over an hour to listen to the entire broadcast as I kept backing up the tape and listening once again to something he said.
The truth does not fear inspection or the spotlight. The truth can be brought out in the glare of the noonday sun without fear of contradiction or demonstration or exhibition of error.
In his sermon on Romans 7, John MacArthur declares, “This is Paul, who when he wrote this was mature, years in Christ, strong in the faith, but never got over his sinfulness. At the end of his years walking with Christ nothing had changed about how he viewed himself. He was a massive disappointment to himself. He was the foremost sinner that he knew. This is a mature Christian. This is as mature as you can get and see yourself as a Christian really is. In this life we will never overcome the power of sin. That’s the mature Christian’s life. This is Paul’s testimony as a Christian. We are sinners until we leave this world. We are trapped.”
Now those are the words of one who has presented himself as a true representative of Jesus Christ for fifty years! His sermons are heard daily by millions around the world! Yet he is an enemy of the truth and has not the slightest idea of that fact. Upon meeting Jesus face-to-face I have not the slightest doubt he will expect to hear the words, “Well done, you good and faithful servant.” That is not what he’s going to hear.
When scripture says Satan is the “god” of this world, you better believe it. When Paul writes that “another Jesus” is being preached alongside the real Jesus of glory, you better believe it. (Read the 11th chapter of 2 Corinthians). God help you to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley