Whose Charles is closer to the truth?

In the 19th century, the revivalist preacher Charles Finney wrote his infamous sermon entitled, 'Sinners bound to change their own hearts.' A hundred years later, Charles Spurgeon delivered a message (wittingly or unwittingly, i don't know) entitled, 'Sinners bound by the cords of sin'.

Our generation, although 'bound by the cords of sin', enjoys its complacent belief of its having the power to transform and untie its own sinful condition. Somewhere along the line, the cords is not that strong enough to bound us forever. Sin is just a habit they say or that the environment made us corrupt. But what Finney is telling us actually is the bad news and nowhere in our own nature could we gain the liberty that a child of God has. The good news is, that liberty is through 'the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'. The total amount paid for the ransom was 'the precious blood of Christ.' In Him only could we found the true freedom 'from the cords of sin.'


If you're curious about Finney's sermon: http://gospeltruth.net/1836SOIS/01sois_sinners_bound.htm
If you're anxious about the truth: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0915.htm

Things needed today, what do you think?

1) House-Fellowships

As I’ve been reading a biography of Jonathan Edwards, it led me to his book entitled ‘Narrative of Surprising Conversions’. I came across or maybe stumbled upon this sentences of which I had been meditating since our last quarterly church meeting; sentences that relate on matters of fellowships & acquaintances. Consider the following from Edwards and my notes at the end.

a) “In the fall of the year I proposed it to the young people, that they should agree among themselves to spend the evenings after lectures in social religion, and to that end divide themselves into several companies to meet in various parts of the town; which was accordingly done, and those meetings have been since continued, and the example imitated by elder people.”

b) “…All would eagerly lay hold of opportunities for their souls; and were wont very often to meet together in private houses, for religious purposes: and such meetings when appointed were greatly thronged.”

c) “…In former stirrings of this nature, the bulk of the young people have been greatly affected; but old men and little children have been so now. Many of the last have, of their own accord, formed themselves into religious societies, in different parts of the town.”

Three things are worth observing from these in relation to house-fellowships. First, Edwards called house-fellowships at his time social religion, private houses, or religious societies. Given the historical fact that Edwards was one of the staunchest practitioner of ‘the means of grace’ such as word & sacraments, prayer & discipline, he also saw to it that ‘a practical outworking’ of the means be met in various parts of the town. He proposed that gathering be at every age level, preferably at a house or any place conducive for such fellowships. Secondly, how to maximize spiritual inquiry, fellowships, etc, is to divide themselves into several companies. Since the number of people interested in religion have multiplied due to revivals, the need to meet for religious purposes had become fruitful and helpful. Its interesting also to note that this example of young people was imitated by elder people! And Edwards didn’t stay passive to wait for more revivals but encourage the flock to spend opportunity for their souls .

1 in a million.

There may have a million blogs in the world, and why add another one!

This blog recalls (and lingers) John Newton's line in his famous hymn, 'Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound', where in our own day, many have this kind of estrange-ness to grace, that if given the time to write their own perspective, they will say 'amazing grace, how strange the sound!' (for that will be the normal response by nice, loving people) never realizing the reality of a salvation to 'a wretched like me'. R.R. would like to contribute, maximize the internet, cooperate with the brethren, in spreading this grace that has been given by the Lord since Eden.

I would like to hear from you.. as you would read much from me, Lord willing. Good-reading & God bless.