Blessed are those who are Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake (Part 2)
Morning 10 December 23
Order of Service
Welcome
Hymn - RESTORE, O LORD (MP 579)
Psalm Reading
Prayer
Teen Talk
Hymn - GIVE THANKS TO GOD (118)
Notices
Main Prayer
Birthdays
Prayer Items
Hymn - YOUR GREAT LOVE (1268)
Sermon Search
Reading
Sermon
The Long War against God
The Hallmark
J C Ryle commented: ‘Persecution … is like the goldsmith’s hallmark on real silver and gold; it is one of the marks of a converted man.
The idea that genuine Christianity can happily and cosily co-exist with common human values, ethics and life-styles is a travesty of the truth.
John MacArthur is right on the mark in saying, ‘When the world runs into Christianity there is always conflict, conviction, guilt, resentment and persecution.’
John Stott puts it, ‘Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.’
The only way for a professing Christian to escape persecution in any form is to go along with the world, raise no objection when it mocks God, laughs at sin, glories in self-indulgence and deifies materialism; but in doing so he forfeits any right to be called a Christian.
Qualifications
Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake suffer solely because they uphold God’s standards of truth, justice and purity, and refuse to compromise with paganism or bow the knee to the idols that men tend to erect as substitutes for God.’
the Christian who is criticised, ostracised or treated badly because of his arrogance, censoriousness or constantly negative criticism of others has only himself to blame and cannot take refuge in this Beatitude.