Holy Living
The sermon emphasizes the importance of holy living and the dangers of compromise with false doctrine, encouraging listeners to start a new way of living based on spiritual principles.
Jonathan Goforth warns about the danger of becoming accustomed to darkness and false doctrines, emphasizing the ease with which believers can compromise their faith by fraternizing with unbelievers. He uses powerful illustrations like the Coast Guard crew's mission and the infiltration of Marxism in religion to highlight the urgency of staying true to God's Word amidst a world filled with deception and distractions.
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People get so used to the dark that they think it is growing brighter ... It is possible to fraternize with unbelievers until false doctrine becomes less and less objectionable.
I have read of a Coast Guard crew summoned on a stormy night to rescue survivors from a sinking vessel. One member of the crew was fearful: "Captain," he moaned, "we'll never get back." "We don't have to come back," was the reply, "we only have to go."
Our Lord sent His disciples out as sheep among wolves; now the wolves are being invited into the sheepfold.
Vice-Admiral Rickover said: "If the Russians announced they were going to send a man to hell, there would be at least two government agencies ... asking for money on the grounds, We've got to get there first."
Lenin said: "We will find our most fertile ground for infiltration of Marxism within the field of religion, because religious people are the most gullible and will accept almost anything if it is couched in religious terminology."
Somebody asked a prominent figure of that day, "What do you think of civilization?" He replied, "I think it's a good idea. Why doesn't someone start it?"
There is a trend today that would put a new robe on the prodigal son while he is still feeding hogs. Some would put the ring on his finger while he still in the pigsty. Others would paint the pigsty and advocate bigger and better hogpens.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Compromise
- The Lord's Warning to His Disciples
- The Trend of Modern Society
- The Call to True Civilization
- Starting a new way of living
- Leaving old habits behind
Key Quotes
“We don't have to come back, we only have to go.” — Jonathan Goforth
“If the Russians announced they were going to send a man to hell, there would be at least two government agencies asking for money on the grounds, We've got to get there first.” — Jonathan Goforth
“We will find our most fertile ground for infiltration of Marxism within the field of religion, because religious people are the most gullible and will accept almost anything if it is couched in religious terminology.” — Jonathan Goforth
Application Points
- We must be vigilant and discerning in our spiritual lives to avoid being infiltrated by false doctrine.
- True civilization is a new way of living that is based on spiritual principles, and we must strive to live according to these principles.
- Leaving old habits and ways of thinking behind is essential to starting a new way of living.