A.W. Pink

Arthur Walkington Pink (1886 - 1952). English Bible teacher, author, and itinerant preacher born in Nottingham. Converted in 1908 from Theosophy to Christianity at 22, he studied at Moody Bible Institute in 1910 but left after two months to preach. Ordained a Baptist, he pastored in Colorado, California, Kentucky, and South Carolina before moving to Australia in 1925, then England in 1928. Disillusioned with church structures, he became an independent teacher, settling in Stornoway, Scotland, by 1940. Pink wrote over 40 books, including The Sovereignty of God (1918) and The Attributes of God, and published Studies in the Scriptures magazine from 1922 to 1953, reaching thousands globally. Known for his Calvinist and dispensationalist views, he emphasized biblical authority and personal holiness. Married to Vera Russell in 1916, they had no children and lived reclusively. His writings, initially obscure, gained prominence posthumously, shaping Reformed theology worldwide.
Download
Sermon Summary
A.W. Pink emphasizes that true Christian love is a divine grace bestowed upon believers, characterized by meekness and a commitment to the highest good of others, rather than mere human sentimentality. He warns against confusing this spiritual love with superficial kindness and stresses that love must align with God's will, promoting righteousness and truth. Pink illustrates that true love is not indulgent but disciplined, and it seeks to correct and guide others in their walk with God. He points to Jesus as the ultimate example of love, who balanced gentleness with the necessity of correction. Ultimately, Pink calls for believers to seek God's love to empower them to practice this difficult yet essential aspect of their faith.
True Christian Love
Love is the Queen of the Christian graces. It is a holy disposition given to us when we are born again by God. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. True spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet it is vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh. We must be careful not to confuse human sentimentality, carnal pleasantries, human amiability and affability with true spiritual love. The love God commands, first to Himself and then to others, is not human love. It is not the indulgent, self-seeking love which is in us by nature. If we indulgently allow our children to grow up with little or, no Scriptural discipline, Proverbs plainly says we do not love them, regardless of the human sentimentality and affection we may feel for them. Love is not a sentimental pampering of one another with a loose indifference as to our walk and obedience before the Lord. Glossing over one another's faults to ingratiate ourselves in their esteem is not spiritual love. The true nature of Christian love is a righteous principle which seeks the highest good of others. It is a powerful desire to promote their welfare. The exercise of love is to be in strict conformity to the revealed will of God. We must love in the truth. Love among the brethren is far more than an agreeable society where views are the same. It is loving them for what we see of Christ in them, loving them for Christ's sake. The Lord Jesus Himself is our example. He was not only thoughtful, gentle, self-sacrificing and patient, but He also corrected His mother, used a whip in the Temple, Severely scolded His doubting disciples, and denounced hypocrites. True spiritual love is above all faithful to God and uncompromising towards all that is evil. We cannot declare, 'Peace and Safety' when in reality there is spiritual decay and ruin! True spiritual love is very difficult to exercise because it is not our natural love. By nature we would rather love sentimentally and engender good feelings. Also many times true spiritual love is not received in love, but is hated as the Pharisees hated it. We must pray that God will fill us with His love and enable us to exercise it without dissimulation toward all.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download

Arthur Walkington Pink (1886 - 1952). English Bible teacher, author, and itinerant preacher born in Nottingham. Converted in 1908 from Theosophy to Christianity at 22, he studied at Moody Bible Institute in 1910 but left after two months to preach. Ordained a Baptist, he pastored in Colorado, California, Kentucky, and South Carolina before moving to Australia in 1925, then England in 1928. Disillusioned with church structures, he became an independent teacher, settling in Stornoway, Scotland, by 1940. Pink wrote over 40 books, including The Sovereignty of God (1918) and The Attributes of God, and published Studies in the Scriptures magazine from 1922 to 1953, reaching thousands globally. Known for his Calvinist and dispensationalist views, he emphasized biblical authority and personal holiness. Married to Vera Russell in 1916, they had no children and lived reclusively. His writings, initially obscure, gained prominence posthumously, shaping Reformed theology worldwide.