BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
220th Edition – December 8, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS
On Wednesday past, December 4, Grace Saunders attained the grand old age of one hundred. Not too many get so far. In fact, in the 48-year history of the Toronto church only two others have made it, Nan Mervyn and Myrtle Eddy.
Grace, and her late husband Howard, were with the church from the beginning in 1976 where he served as an elder. Both were very faithful in attendance, as Grace is now, being in her seat every Sunday evening.
A special drop-in celebration was held for Grace last Saturday in the church when many, many people showed up to wish her a happy birthday, including greetings from King Charles III and Camilla, and the various Canadian political figures.
It was a happy occasion hosted by her children who were all in attendance with their spouses Les and April, Sharon, Heather and Ron, and Larry and Jill. We rejoice with them all and extend to Grace our best wishes on this notable birthday.
AN ARTIFICIAL JESUS
A measure of how wicked this world has become is seen in an experiment done in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic chapel in Lucerne, Switzerland. They installed an artificial intelligence Jesus in a confessional box. People would enter to confess their sins, and an AI Jesus would respond.
The Roman confessional box itself is wrong, as we confess directly to God, not to a mere, mortal, sinful man like ourselves. But to install an unreal Jesus is to heighten the error, and to invite the judgment of God.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” [John 14:6]. What they have in this situation is an error, an unreal Jesus. In fact, He warned that in the last days there would arise “false Christs.” He told His disciples that if any man would say, “Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not” [Matt. 24:23]
We are living in an unreal world where you can hardly believe anything seen or heard.
THE FATHER OF LIES
Fake news, a fake Jesus, fake advertisements, fake politicians. Fakery seems everywhere today. The cause? It is the work of the devil who is, “the father of it” [John 8:44]. John also tells us that the devil “abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” He adds that “he is a liar, and the father of it.”
In our modern society we are bombarded with so much that is fake that we need to be extra careful to distinguish real from unreal.
Hollywood tries to exert political pressure but we should never listen to them as they live in a make-believe world of unreality.
The Bible teaches us to “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” [James 4:7]. The Christian must be absolutely truthful in all his dealings with others. To behave in a dishonest way puts him in the camp of the wicked one.
A SURE CALLING AND ELECTION
How do you know you are saved, and on the road to heaven? The Christian knows with assurance that it is well with the soul because, at conversion, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the soul. This is not merely an abstract hope but a divine reality.
We are told, “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which we have of God” [I Corinthians 6:19]. This is also confirmed, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” [Romans 8:16]. So, the true believer can be absolutely sure that he has been born again by the work and confirmation of the Spirit.
However, Peter gives a solemn warning, “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” [II Peter 1:10]. It seems that some whose relationship with God amounts to little more than blind superstition, and as such it would be a fake salvation.
Dear reader, make sure you have the real deal, confirmed by the Holy Spirit. Remember, the devil is a liar and he will be happy to delude you. But thankfully he has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ.
With Paul we can confidently say, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day” [II Timothy 1:12].
