Monthly Archives: August 2026

Everything Good and Praiseworthy

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From Family Religion, by Matthew Henry:

“Countenance every thing that is good and praiseworthy in your children and domestics. It is as much your duty to commend and encourage those in your family who do well, as to reprove and admonish those who do amiss; and if you take delight only in blaming that which is culpable, and are backward to praise that which is laudable, you give occasion to suspect something of an ill nature, not becoming a good man, much less a good Christian.

It should be a trouble to us when we have a reproof to give, but a pleasure to us to say with the apostle, “Now I praise you” 1 Cor. 11:2. Most people will be easier led than driven, and we all love to be spoken to kindly: when you see any thing that is hopeful and promising in those under your charge, any thing of a towardly and tractable disposition, much more any thing of a pious affection to the things of God, you should contrive to encourage it.

Smile upon them when you see them set their faces heavenwards, and take the first opportunity to let them know you observe it, and are well pleased with it, and do not despise the day of small tilings. This will quicken them to continue and abound in that which is good, it will encourage them against the difficulties they see in their way, and perhaps may turn the wavering, trembling scale the right way, and effectually determine their resolutions to cleave to the Lord.”

Out of the Word of Faith – Two Recent Interviews:

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I was recently interviewed on two separate YouTube channels and was able to share my testimony of being brought out of the deception of the word of Faith movement, where I served as a pastor.

The first was with Daniel Long (72 minutes):

The second interview was with Doreen Virtue (52 minutes):

I trust the conversations and interactions can be a blessing.

Amazement at Grace

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“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.” – Martyn Lloyd Jones

Monergism.com wriites:
The more clearly a person understands God, sin, Christ’s cross, and salvation, the more astonishing grace becomes. Spiritual maturity does not produce the thought, “God was wise to save me.” It produces: “Why would God show mercy to someone like me?”

Why amazement is such an important test:

– It reveals whether we understand the holiness of God. If God is infinitely holy, His willingness to receive guilty sinners is astonishing.

– It reveals whether we understand our sin. Grace seems ordinary only when sin seems small.

– It destroys spiritual entitlement. The self-righteous person thinks he deserves God’s favor; the Christian knows that salvation is entirely undeserved.

– It magnifies Christ’s cross. Grace is free to us, but it was purchased through the blood of the Son of God.

– It produces humility, gratitude, worship, and obedience rather than pride and self-congratulation.

Someone responded: No, the ultimate test is living a faithful life.

Monergism’s reply: A faithful life is not an alternative to amazement at grace, because there is no genuinely Christian obedience apart from grace, apart from union with Christ. Without it, outward obedience easily becomes self-righteousness or moralism. Amazement at grace is the root; faithful living is the fruit.

They replied: I understand the root and fruit, but far too many are nominal antinomians.

Monergism: I agree that nominal antinomianism is a serious problem. But legalism is not the cure (to obey without being amazed at grace); union with Christ answers both errors. We do not forsake sin to qualify ourselves to come to Christ; we come helplessly to Christ, who rescues us from both sin’s guilt and its power. We do not say, “Lord, I have conquered these sins; now accept me.” We say, “Lord, I cannot save or sanctify myself; save me wholly.” The grace that justifies also unites us to Christ and necessarily produces holiness.