That there are unsaved people in the churches I have not a doubt. The Bible expressly teaches that there would be. The parable of the tares and of the net in Matthew 13, the parable of the wedding in Matthew 22, and the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 clearly are intended to show that many claim to be saved, or expect to reach Heaven, who have false hopes and are lost. But we are expressly taught that we are not to judge which are tares and which are wheat, lest we root up the wheat also, thinking it tares (Matt. 13:29, 30). YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO IS SAVED AND WHO IS LOST. TO DARE SAY YOU DO IS A SIN, violating the plain command of Christ. - John R. Rice [page 104, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
Much of our criticism is not on the facts but on our interpretation of the facts. Figures, it is true, do not lie, but our interpretation of the figures may lie and our interpretation will be colored by our love. Love covers the multitude of sins. - John R. Rice
Do you remember the case of the king who had a steward who owed him ten thousand talents and could not pay? The king, Jesus said, frankly forgave him all. But this lord had a servant who owed him a hundred pence. He went and seized him by the throat and cast him in prison until he should pay him all. The servants were sorry, and when the king heard about it he was greatly angered and cast this ungrateful man into prison until he, too, should pay all he owed. And Jesus said, "...So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses" (Matt. 18:35). How sinful, then, it is in God's sight for us not to love those whom Jesus loved and forgave. What a blessed trade it is, what a holy bargain for us when we receive complete forgiveness for all our sins and God simply asks us to forgive others their small sins against us. Yes, love truly covers the multitude of sins, our own sins as well as our brother's. - John R. Rice [page 109, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
One who does not believe what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ, "the doctrine of Christ," according to II John 9-11 "hath not God," is not converted, is not a Christian; therefore he should not be counted a Christian. - John R. Rice [page 145, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
Much of our criticism is not on the facts but on our interpretation of the facts. Figures, it is true, do not lie, but our interpretation of the figures may lie and our interpretation will be colored by our love. Love covers the multitude of sins. - John R. Rice
Do you remember the case of the king who had a steward who owed him ten thousand talents and could not pay? The king, Jesus said, frankly forgave him all. But this lord had a servant who owed him a hundred pence. He went and seized him by the throat and cast him in prison until he should pay him all. The servants were sorry, and when the king heard about it he was greatly angered and cast this ungrateful man into prison until he, too, should pay all he owed. And Jesus said, "...So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses" (Matt. 18:35). How sinful, then, it is in God's sight for us not to love those whom Jesus loved and forgave. What a blessed trade it is, what a holy bargain for us when we receive complete forgiveness for all our sins and God simply asks us to forgive others their small sins against us. Yes, love truly covers the multitude of sins, our own sins as well as our brother's. - John R. Rice [page 109, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
One who does not believe what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ, "the doctrine of Christ," according to II John 9-11 "hath not God," is not converted, is not a Christian; therefore he should not be counted a Christian. - John R. Rice [page 145, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
Those who hold to "the faith of the Gospel," according to Philippians 1:27, those who believe in the deity, the virgin birth, miraculous life, atoning death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in the inspiration of the Scriptures in which these things are clearly revealed from God and who have personally trusted Christ as Saviour are Christians worthy of our fellowship, and should be called Christians. - John R. Rice [page 145, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
Those who are "weak in the faith" are to be received as Christian brethren if they are "in the faith" of those great essentials, even though they may be weak on lesser matters, according to Romans 14:1, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." And so in Psalm 119:63 the psalmist says, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." So a Christian should have fellowship, when possible, with born-again Christian people even though they may not agree on every lesser detail. - John R. Rice [page 145, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]
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