VARIOUS THOUGHTS--CHARLES WOODRUFF

                                        

                                 Reformed Theology - Sola Scriptura                                       The Arminian doctrine of election states that God looked into the future and chose those people who were going to choose Him. In Romans 8, the Greek word for foreknew means to ‘to know beforehand’ ‘forelove’ or ‘foreappoint’, not ‘look into the future’. The Arminian absurdly believes that the eternally omniscient God looked into the future to gain knowledge from His creations. No being can choose Christ until He is revealed to himself by the Lord. (Cw)

He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease

John 3:30

I would far rather publish the good writings of my brothers and sisters than to seek   glory for myself by always being the one doing the writing, or the preaching. Let Him who “ever lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25), receive any glory that comes from these feeble publishing efforts. To paraphrase George Whitefield “Let the name of Woodruff perish, but Christ be glorified!” I only let you know who I am so that I may be of service to you in Jesus Christ. (Cw)

                                                As George Whitefield himself said:

“Unloose my stammering tongue to tell, Thy Love immense, unsearchable”.

                                         Truth Revealed and Truth Concealed

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Matthew 11:25

Jesus' words here show us:

To some sinners truth is revealed;

To some it is hidden and concealed. (Cw)

                                              Warning of Unchanging Gospel         

This is a warning I hope we all take to heart. As people of The Word, we have to ask ourselves how we can really expect to improve on a perfect model.  Cautiously I will say that some new ways of applying the unchanging biblical principles are fine...we need to be able to communicate with 21st Century culture, but we must not abandon the heart of the Gospel and basics of authentic discipleship in the process. (Cw)

                                              Which Book is the Truth?

Since most things mankind learns is from books, why would men say that God's book is untrue? The burden of proof is on them, for they are saying some other writings by Bible denying atheists are truer than the Bible. They are actually saying in effect that other books are greater, more accurate, more infalliable than the Bible. The Bible claims to be the word of God; accurate; infalliable. Put it to the test! (Cw)

                                                              Our Eschatology

A lot of eschatology and much of our theology in general, will be straightened out when Christ comes.” (Cw)

                                       From John Newton on Depravity                          "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."                                                                     

"I am not what I ought to be.

I am not what I want to be.

I am not what I hope to be.

But still, I am not what I used to be.

And by the grace of God I am what I am."

(Both from John Newton)

                                             Universalism Anyone?

A Universal Notice- “God ---now commandeth all men everywhere to

 Repent.” Acts 17:30.

A Universal Necessity-----“As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 (cp. With Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1).

A Universal Neglect----“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God”. Romans 3:11(cp with Psalm 14:2 and Psalm 53:2).

                  LORD, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in

the depths but see thee in the heights;

hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,

and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine; Let me find thy light in my darkness,

thy life in my death,

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty,

thy glory in my valley.

From: The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions,

By Arthur Bennett, Introductory page. Banner of Truth, Edinburgh, 1975