Mankind’s Utter Corruption . . .

Mankind’s Utter Corruption . . .

and its slowness to believe the glorious life that we are called to in the new covenant is especially clear and powerfully evident by the common, sinful understanding that there is to be a little bit of all kinds of good and noble things, of everything that is godly, of all the virtues of Christ, of all the fruits of the Spirit.

For example: a little bit of faith and hope, a little bit of truthfulness and righteousness, a little bit of love and mercy, a little bit of meekness and humility, a little bit of generosity, a little bit of hospitality, a little bit of patience, a little bit of longsuffering with others, a little bit of forbearance, a little bit of gentleness, a little bit of strictness, a little bit of submission, a little bit of God’s power, a little bit of diligence and activity, a little bit of joy, etc., etc.

In this respect people are completely bewitched; they are, in a manner of speaking, possessed by this sinful stinginess!!!

When we have received a little bit of these glorious virtues, we may think that we are really pious if we pray for a little bit more of them!

Do people not read God’s Word carefully and reflect on it? Do they not see that we are called to something totally different than a little bit of this glory?

The promises and exhortations speak plainly and clearly about large amounts of all God’s glory. The Scriptures use all the strongest words in the language in this respect.

And of course people like to be biblical, do they not? In this area, however, the vast majority are completely unbiblical!

Look up “little” or “small” in the Bible concordance. Then you will have good opportunity to learn a powerful and good lesson:

1. Little is not found in connection with spiritual goods!

2. On the other hand, little is recommended when it concerns earthly things!

But there we have the other half of mankind’s sinful bewitchment! Concerning earthly things it is very difficult to find anyone who is possessed by the idea of little. On the contrary, people are possessed by the idea of: much, much more, refined and even more refined, new, and modern. Many believers are wholehearted concerning this!

Everything is upside down! It is backwards! This is precisely why the Scriptures exhort both unconverted and converted people and also leaders of churches to repent!

We praise God exceedingly for all those we have found during these last years in many countries, namely those who are wholeheartedly turning to true Christianity! Hallelujah!

If it is your heart’s desire to get out of this impasse, you must radically and decisively declare war against these two sinful concepts for the rest of your life: 1) a little bit of spiritual goods and 2) much of earthly goods!!! Puttering around is useless! These two sinful ideas are far too firmly ingrained. But they are—God be praised!—not so ingrained that we cannot be completely set free from both of them!

Always pay attention to the strength of the expressions when you read in the Scriptures, and your faith and trust in God will increase correspondingly.