February 21, 2018 Show with Ron Glass on “Think What? The Apostle Paul’s Admonitions that We All Think the Same Thing”

Live from the historic parsonage of 19th century gospel minister George Norcross in

downtown Carlisle, Pennsylvania, it's Iron Sharpens Iron,

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issues facing the church and the world today.

Proverbs 27 verse 17 tells us, Iron sharpens iron so

one man sharpens another.

Matthew Henry said that in this passage, quote, we are cautioned to take heed whom we

converse with and directed to have in view in conversation to make one another

wiser and better.

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Good afternoon, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Lake City, Florida, and the rest of humanity living on the planet Earth

who are listening via live streaming at ironsharpensironradio .com.

This is Chris Orrins and your host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio wishing you all a happy Wednesday

on this 21st day of February 2018 and for some reason we're

having problems with the opening music and I'm not sure what that's all about but

today as many of you know Billy Graham went home to be with the Lord at 99 years

of age and we are going to plan on doing a program

on the legacy that he left and we are not going to pull punches.

We believe that Billy Graham, although was used in many

wonderful ways for the Lord and no doubt was a tool in the Lord's hands to

lead many to Christ, perhaps even millions, but that

does not mean that the ministry has not also done things that

those who are from a more conservative Bible -believing perspective

do not have great concerns over and we are going to be addressing that at some point perhaps even

Friday on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.

I always feel uncomfortable bringing criticism upon someone

who, like Billy Graham, has many wonderful things to

commend him for.

He seems to have had a spotless record in regard to

marital faithfulness and things that we unfortunately hear

are not parts of the lives of famous people even those that profess to be

Christian.

There are many things about Billy Graham that we could applaud him for and celebrate but

as I said there are things especially in regard to ecumenical relationships with non

-Christians and the belief that those from other religions may enter heaven

with us one day while believing that Christ saved them that there

are many that don't necessarily need to or ever will believe in Christ but that will

nonetheless enter into heaven.

Things such as that that Billy Graham believed that that breaks the hearts of

many of us who have a much stronger view of what the Bible says in those

regards but stay tuned over the next couple of days and we should have more information

to update you with in regard to our program because I think that we need to

pray for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association as

they are at a crossroads now and we don't know whether they are going to go to the

left or are they going to return to Billy Graham's biblical roots we just don't know

so we will certainly be praying about that and we'll keep you updated on a program addressing those

issues but today we have returning to the show one of my favorite guests one of

my all -time favorite preachers and one of my dearest friends Pastor Ron Glass of

Wading River Baptist Church of Wading River Long Island New York those of you who listen to my program every day

hear the commercials for Wading River Baptist Church at least once a day sometimes twice a day

sometimes even three times a day and there's a reason why I'm eager to promote

Wading River Baptist Church and it's not only because they have been faithful financial supporters of

our interpreters on radio but because my guest today Pastor Glass is a biblically faithful

expository preacher and I just love being a part

of the editing process for his River of Life radio program I edit his sermons to fit

within two half -hour radio broadcasts and the River of Life program

is heard every Saturday at 930 a .m. Eastern Time and every Sunday at 730 p .m.

Eastern Time globally via live streaming at Eastgate broadcasting .com

and today we are going to be addressing think what the Apostle Paul's admonitions that

we all think the same thing and it's my honor and privilege to welcome you back to Iron Sharpens Iron radio Pastor Ron Glass.

Thank you Chris it's a joy to be with you today.

And although we have explained in detail what people can expect

at Wading River Baptist Church on many occasions and you air ads every day in my program

for those of you my listeners who are perhaps just discovering this program for the first time today and have never heard

of you or Wading River Baptist Church before why don't you tell.

Our

listeners

about that.

Well

they'd

be in the

great

majority

I'm

afraid.

And if.

Anybody wants more information about Wading River Baptist Church.

You could go to WRBC .us.

And why don't you tell us a little bit about the River of Life.

Radio program.

River of Life

program.

Yes and

once again

the

website where

you not.

Only can you listen via live streaming but you can also get those numbers on

the dial where you can hear the program if you are on eastern in eastern Suffolk County Long Island.

That's eastgatebroadcasting .com.

Eastgatebroadcasting .com.

Well this is an interesting subject today.

Think what the Apostle Paul's admonitions that we all think the same thing.

This is something that militates against the modern

mindset of many people not only in secular society but even within the Christian Church and in some

ways that's a facade because those of those among the liberals

or perhaps even more appropriately labeled leftists in society

they will say that they are crying out for diversity and tolerance but

they really want us to believe all the same thing as well.

But it's the wrong thing.

It seems that you can believe just about anything and you will receive the the accolades

and commendations and the celebration of the left unless you are

a conservative Bible believing Christian.

But if you could tell us why this topic think what that.

You wanted to discuss today.

Let's break it down into its two parts and that is

not a

part

of that.

Even in

the

Old Testament

I never see

anyone to

disagree.

But

that

is

generally

the truth

there

both of

what we

have

let

me give

you

some

examples over

the years.

But he makes a very emphatic

case in

that you all

and

that's an

interesting

in order

that

you

quarrel.

I am of

Paul I

am of Apollos and I of Cephas right.

So the congregation had for the

problem was.

That's

a

pretty

comprehensive

statement he

says.

All of

you

agree.

Say

the same things no divisions be

mended or restored the same mind.

Then you have

here's emphasis encouragement

I mean

influence.

So in order

for

them in second

current

he

says

in the

like

make

my

joy

repeatedly

to

at least three

different churches.

And really and

I'm gonna

let

our

listeners

know our

email.

Address.

If you'd like to join us on the air with a question of your own our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail

.com.

Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Please always give us at least your first name your city and state and your country of

residence if you live outside the USA.

And please only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter.

If it's not personal and private please give us at least your first name city and state in and country

of residence.

We have a Ronald in eastern Suffolk County Long Island New York

who says in the passage that you cited in 1st Corinthians 1 verse 12.

One part of that passage confuses me.

Where Paul says now I mean this that each one of you is saying

I am of Paul and I of Apollos and I of Cephas and I of Christ.

It is the last thing that confuses me.

Can you explain.

That is an interesting thing.

Because Pastor Ron you may have experienced this.

I experienced this very often maybe even every week when I'm having a conversation.

Especially if somebody disagrees with my belief in the doctrines of sovereign grace because

those doctrines as you know are nicknamed Calvinism.

And very often if someone disagrees with me on those issues they'll say oh I don't like

to believe and teach in the doctrines of men.

You know you could be of Calvin and somebody else can be of Wesley but I like to just be of Christ.

And it's like they're ignorant that that verse is even in the scriptures.

And it seems to me that sometimes people say that in ignorance that there are no

traditions that they are importing into their own belief claiming that they are the teachings of Christ.

Naively.

But anyway what.

What is that.

What is Paul saying.

There I think you put your finger right on it.

I think that's exactly right.

Another example of that mine but another example of that that I've encountered

a number of times is I am person right.

Implication there

I think what you're saying is right.

The implication there is that every time men

by virtue of their interpretive touched the truth they have fouled it up.

Some we understand that

we

can't

somehow arrive at the truth and see that's what I'm thinking that Paul is is

arguing against here.

So when they say I I'm of Christ that probably was the party in the

church who said I don't put my allegiance

with I really as much as we

appreciate dear Paul who founded this church and who gave us the truth.

Nonetheless I refuse to follow a man.

And then there were those who said perhaps more the Jewish orient they

could find themselves more comfortable with Peter's.

I don't want any of that.

All of that is tainted to some degree.

Just give me a.

That's all.

When you do that you are in fact

one

of the you realize

that God's Word has to be

capable.

A

question

that emerges out of that

possible it

did.

Are we by simply by our

and never

know.

And that's a big problem today.

If you look at what is today younger

younger people especially those who've come to Christ as young adults they really and

then they get themselves into churches primarily

we look

at

Christianity.

I go to this church church and they believe something

entirely different denominations

all claiming that they have the truth and some of these young people instead of

studying denomination saying I want to be a part

what they have done is they have looked for.

It's why we've seen older but not just younger even

some older adults.

Evangelicalism.

And go back into churches like the Roman Church or the Anglican Church or the Orthodox Church

because they have very long traditions of believing the same thing and

because they have because

all you have

to do is

set that.

And then you don't have

to do any hard work in

turn so that right

churches that have

creeds that are that

simply eliminates

to think we have

an anonymous listener that is asking.

Something that somewhat is a perfect segue to what you said.

This anonymous listener in New York says.

I have a very dear friend who is a member of a church where people apparently are

frightened to ever disagree or question the pastor.

It seems that they have been robbed of the Berean example that the

Apostle Paul commended and this church is a Baptist

Church but it seems to be acting and actually functioning as

a cult in many ways although the theology that seems to be taught

most of it is right on the line biblical.

What can you say to help me to communicate to this friend of mine who is

very discouraged and.

Depressed being a member of this church.

You can

you can believe mostly believe

the right things although I haven't.

I find errors but a cultic mental.

So my sister

be whoever

and

then you

need to

go some

portable

doctrinal

freedom to.

You can't.

I can appreciate what this.

Well thank

you anonymous and

keep.

Listening to orange weapons iron radio and spread the word about the program.

In fact if you ever wanted to ask pastor class additional questions off the air go to

W RBC us W RBC us and later on

you can speak with him if you so desire.

You said something.

I don't know if I misinterpreted what you said but it seemed you were being a little critical of

churches that are confessional.

I am to be a member of a confessional church and I think that there is great value in creeds and confessions.

In fact I think every church really has one once they have some kind of a statement of faith

that is really a confession or creed whether they call it that or not.

But for instance the most churches that I know that adhere to the 1689 London Baptist Confession

members are not forced to be in full agreement with every single article they have

room to question as long as it's not something salvific.

And they the creeds and confessions are basically summaries of what the

leaders of that particular congregation believe are important biblical teachings.

And the in fact some confessional churches do not require

someone to agree with everything to be a member because they obviously realize a sanctification process

you know could take years for people to understand certain things.

Know what is it specifically about confessionalism that that bothers you.

I know of that are.

Really confession and

these can

even be

I'm talking to

let me give you

let me say I come back to the

important.

There's a presupposition by the way can you can.

You can you pick up where we where you left off because we have to go to our first break right now.

Okay.

And we'll be back just in a few minutes with more passer on glass.

Don't go away.

We'll be right back in.

Our email address is chrisarnson at gmail .com.

CHR is a RN Zena gmail .com.

If you have any questions of your own we'll be right back God willing.

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Hi I'm.

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Every Saturday from 12 noon to 1 p .m. Eastern Time on WLIE radio

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Because everyone needs a pastor.

Welcome back.

This is Chris Arnzen if you just tuned us in our guest today for the full two hours with about 90 minutes to go.

His pastor Ron Glass of Wading River Baptist Church in Wading River Long Island New York.

He's also host of the River of Life radio program heard at Eastgate

broadcasting .com.

And today we are discussing think what the admonition of the Apostle Paul that we all think the same

thing.

If you'd like to join us on the air our email address is ChrisArnzen at gmail .com.

ChrisArnzen at gmail .com.

And we were just going to hear about why you have some critical

apprehensions about confessionalism and if you could pick up where you left off.

All right.

Well in general terms confessionalism I think has to take a backseat.

Pretty non -confession.

Of course that is definitely true.

In fact the.

Confession says that at least the 1689 London Baptist Confession and the.

Westminster both

say that that's

not the

way that

they're.

Baptist

version.

Yes

confession all

right are

the only

Westminster

confessions right.

Immersion

is necessary.

Again a

direct

question is well obviously I believe that the

Bible.

Being a Baptist I would believe that the Bible teaches that the London Baptist Confession of Faith is accurately

describing the biblical ordinance of.

Baptism.

Ok but you see how you started that out.

You said obviously being a Baptist right now you brought first of all you've made an

assumption that it's obvious.

Second of all you have brought your denominational affiliation into the argument

and this is where we get into big problems.

That's one of the reason.

Well I guess what the way.

Why I said it that way was because obviously I believe Presbyterians and other Pato

Baptists are my brothers in Christ.

But the reason that I am a member of a Baptist Church and a reformed Baptist Church the reason I

joined one is not because oh I'm going to find a church that teaches baptistic

thinking.

I joined a Baptist Church because I believe the Baptist the reformed Baptist churches are most faithful

to the scriptures.

It was the scriptures that led me to remain within reformed Baptist Church is not because

of some sentimental traditional romantic view or attachment to

Baptists but that.

Same argument that you've just used could be used by.

Yeah.

Well obviously I.

Would hope that a Presbyterian is believing something because they think it is biblical

but even I'm still kind of at a loss as to how you would be critical of somebody for instance adhering to

the 1689 London Baptist Confession since you at least on that point you agree with.

What the confession.

Is saying correct.

Well sure I do.

But I don't agree with it because it's the love.

Of course.

I agree with what it says as to the extent to which it agrees with scripture.

Of course.

Of course.

Definitely.

How do you.

What do you say to a Presbyterian who holds both to infant

battling.

Well the very reason that I had.

A debate that I arranged between two dear friends of mine James White and Bill Shishko.

I had a debate because I was challenging hoping to challenge not only bill but

the Presbyterians and other Pato Baptists in the audience.

I was hoping to challenge them to search the scriptures anew

and prayerfully you know to come to a biblical position on this because I believe that the

the biblical teaching is clear very clear on the issue.

So that was where I'm coming from.

It's always first and foremost the scriptures that teach us something and my point is only that a

confession is merely supposed to be a summary of what a specific church believes.

The Bible teaches in matters of great importance like for instance the London Baptists confession typically

depending upon who publishes it is only about 120 pages or so 120 130 pages and that's

not a very long book.

It's not a phone book size creed or something or confession.

But anyway I'm sorry if I interrupted you you could continue with your thought.

There let's go back to your discussion.

Now between these two gentlemen was the.

Outcome.

Well the outcome was I believe that the the Baptist understanding

of baptism was clearly revealed to be the biblical one.

That was the way I walked away.

Believing a friend changed his mind then.

No I'm not saying that that occurred.

No this is my point.

What happens is that after we have these discussions where we

don't agree and we lay out the biblical evidence

and I personally believe that there is absolutely

no evidence for infant baptism in Scripture you cannot find it.

I agree all right.

So you lay that before our Presbyterian debate like this.

Oh we just have to now.

That's that's where I have the problem because Paul

says I want you to I want you to say the same things I want you to

agree on these things to make the argument.

Well he's talking to the Roman Church.

So within the church they should.

I think we have to look at it broader than that because we're representing biblical Christianity

and you see what we're saying to the world is there are different

ways believe the Bible

and to regard these different doctrines and therefore there's no unity between them

on this.

And the only position we got

good enough you know.

So what's the answer to to this.

Well the answer to now I could be wrong and I would I stand to be

corrected by by anybody who wishes but I have yet

to me

I have yet to meet one who will say I do not happen to agree

with just

the

issue we were talking about.

Well obviously

the Presbyterians would believe in.

Believers baptism if the person was not already baptized as an infant.

And I know that we you and I would believe that that is not a baptism if you're baptized as an infant.

But I can say that the debate that I orchestrated between James

White and my friend Bill Shishko they did not refer

for proof of their arguments either one of them the confessions that I recall.

Bill Shishko was using household baptisms in the New Testament

to back up his arguments Oiko baptism as it's called.

And I I disagreed with his interpretation of those citations where whole families were

baptized because I do not believe that hope that there there were infants baptized if they were

rejoicing with the one baptized.

In other words obviously an infant is not going to be rejoicing with somebody who's

being baptized because they would be incapable of understanding of what's going on.

And even unbelievers rejoicing with the one being baptized doesn't make sense.

Well there would be no reason for them to rejoice if their families lives were being put at risk for the

leader of the household being baptized.

But but that's that's perhaps going too far.

With an explanation I can say that I I do know Presbyterians that attempt to use the Bible

to bolster their arguments but they have not convinced me or even come.

Close.

The question comes down to this

can we immediately I can hear the

objections.

If you then you are probably

going to say in the next statement that you happen to know what that truth is.

Now you are sort of making a cultic leader out of you know

that's not what I am doing because I obviously do

not ever come.

I was decisively

to find another

church then

it may

help but

rather by an argument that is based on the

price and my observation what I'm making

a case

study the

text of

Scripture and what that's.

Amen you.

Believe and it's what you practice amen.

I agree with you 100 and by the way I want to let our listeners know that I have edited hundreds of pastor Ron

sermons and I could barely think of one incident where I

disagreed with him on what he was saying.

Just want to let our listeners know that we are not and some diametrically opposed ways of thinking or

theology or something like that we do have differences but the the the great

dominance of what you preach on it seems would be things that I would as a Reformed Baptist

agree with you.

Completely that have

taken a decisive

the same

back to the

scriptures and look at rather than

what trying to absorb what

once you and

that you

arrive at least at a tentative decision based

in doing this as I

studied they have.

They have made some mistakes when I can of

Scripture and it's not just

prejudice because I need to be able to go back and say look at this point you have not

accepted what Scripture says.

On this all everything I'm

saying here is with regard to

the Bible is

mature that nobody

cannot a person who is a true be

discern the truth.

Now it doesn't happen all at once.

You can't test week and I expect by next week to have mastered the Bible.

It doesn't work that way.

It takes a long time of thing.

I would like to yes you can

know the truth.

You are not shut up

to all these different opinions and we have

to go to our midway break right.

Now it's longer than most of our breaks because grace life radio 90 .1 FM in Lake City Florida

requires a 12 -minute break between the two hours.

If you'd like to join us on the air with a question of your own our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

Please as always give us your first name your city and state and your country of residence if you live outside the

USA.

And please only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter.

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God willing we're gonna be right back after these.

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Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?

Or am I trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Hi, I'm Mark Lukens, pastor of Providence Baptist Church.

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And now we also have to make a couple of announcements before we return to our discussion with Pastor Ron Glass of Wading

River Baptist Church and the River of Life radio program.

The Spirit of the Age and the Age of the Spirit is the theme of the Philadelphia Conference on Reform

Theology being sponsored by the Alliance of Confessing.

Evangelicals.

There are two locations that this event will be where this event will be held.

The first is the First Christian Reform Church of Byron Center, Michigan from

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And the speakers include Daniel Akin Richard Gaffin, Daniel Hyde Conrad M. Bayway who is, and

I just don't have the words to describe what a powerful, powerful preacher Conrad M. Bayway is

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Zambia Africa.

I've known Conrad since 1995 and I just cannot rave enough about his

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and the gospel.

Richard Phillips is also a friend of mine who is speaking on that roster and also Jonathan

Master, David Murray and Scott Oliphant.

If you'd like to register for the Spirit of the Age and the Age of the Spirit Conference which is the

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.com because we surely could use the advertising dollars and now we are back with

our guest Pastor Ron Glass of Wading River Baptist Church Wading River, Long Island, New York and host

of the River of Life radio program and we do have a couple of listeners

that have questions for you.

Pastor Ron I do believe as you do in the perpiscuity of scripture can you tell us

though what Peter was saying in 2 Peter 3 about the teachings of Paul being hard to

understand.

Look at the words and this is my point with thinking he says

that he doesn't say

Peter struggled with

him because Peter

struggled

with that

probably as he.

By the way I think I may have attributed that question to the wrong listener.

I don't know if I even mentioned the name of the listener that was Beebe in Cumberland County Pennsylvania.

I'm sorry if I attributed your question Beebe to someone else.

We have Arnie in Perry County Pennsylvania who says

Pastor Glass I just can't seem to understand what your beef is with

confessionalism.

I'm sure there are a handful at least of very important doctrines that you and your

elders believe are required of somebody who would be teaching especially or for someone to have

authority in your local congregation.

What is the difference between that and having a confession.

A confession written document.

Presbyterian parts of the Westminster.

That almost scripture.

Again very often

we come to a difficult

and what are we

so my beef with.

There's

some

other

issues.

Covenant theology for example.

Back years ago I had the privilege of teaching theology

on an adjunct basis.

Very

often

I would say on

the other

side you

have Dr. B.

These guys have their PhDs and they are diametrically opposed to each other on interpretation.

Consider in between who have a significant

academic credential if they can't agree if they can't know for

sure what the truth is then how am I supposed to do it.

And they throw up their hands.

Well I explain this.

Somebody

believed that the truth could be.

That's my concern.

Did you have another question Chris.

Actually I do have another listener question.

Yes.

And of course Baptists throughout history have divided over the confessional issue Charles

Spurgeon adhered to the 1689 London Baptist Confession and many other great Baptist

heroes did but I know that this is something that Baptists do disagree on

and have for centuries.

Well but the question is I can

ascribe to.

I can hold to that for the most part but the point is.

If I ever heard a pastor

saying that the 1689 confession was inspired of God or

even treated it that way I would leave the church as fast as I could as if it were on fire.

I've never heard a Reformed Baptist use the confession in that way but I know that

there are abuses with many things.

Even in theologically sound churches there are abuses of different things.

We do have.

Let's see here.

We have Harrison in Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania who says I

agree with you 100 Pastor Glass that the truth can be known because I do believe in the perspicuity of

scripture.

But I'm sure you would agree or at least I think you would that on this earth

until we are in heaven we will never be in 100 lockstep agreement because we are

fallen human beings with finite minds and still battle with remaining sin.

We will never be completely in agreement on everything other than those things that are

salvific.

If we are a Christian of course.

Yes I would respond to that by saying.

And

the

other

thing

that

is

very concerning to me again is the perception that the outside world

has deadlocked over.

Now let me say and I would like to push on a little bit here

that I think that there are

and that is that there is an indispensable

one spirit, one hope of your

one God and Father.

The point is that there is a core

Christian.

We need to

test the

that's our starting if a group of people

especially the cults if they cannot say

rose

again

from a bodily

embrace

as

you

have

a indispensable core biblical truth.

Now what I've discovered when I was young they used to refer to the cardinal truth

you had to believe and

what happened is over the every one of

those doctrines has been up for grabs among professing evangelicals.

In fact could you list all of those.

I'm going to go to our break right now so I don't have to interrupt you.

This is our final break.

If you could list all of those within the next 35 minutes or so I think that

would be very helpful.

Well I don't know about all of them but.

Okay well as many as we can get to.

And if anybody would like to join us on the air now is your time to send in your email because we're rapidly running out of time.

Our email address is chrisarnson at gmail dot com.

Chrisarnson at gmail dot com.

Please give us your first name your city and state and your country of residence if you live outside the USA

and please only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter.

Other than that.

Please give us your first name city and state and country of residence.

Don't go away we'll be right back with Pastor Ron Glass after these messages.

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Welcome back.

This is chris arnzen and if you haven't already sent in your email please send it in now because we are rapidly

running out of time, our email address is chrisarnzen at gmail .com.

Chrisarnzen at gmail .com.

If you have a question for our guest pastor ron glass of wading river baptist church wading river long

island new york and host of the river of life radio program.

And if you could pastor ron start to list as many as you can

of those doctrines that are essential for eternal life

essential for one to believe in order to be deemed someone a faithful and

genuine regenerate individual.

The

deity

of christ

the doctrine of the inherent

those

are

probably

agreed upon.

Let me say one more thing here i mentioned about the indus

and the other and these

are dependent.

We have lost our unity.

I've come to a pass.

It's 1st john 2 15 -17.

Do not love the world the

world is

passing.

What i find

terminable.

Disagreement arguing.

Let me give you an example in light of what i've just read.

Watch all.

Violence.

Can you do that.

It used to be again

i'm remembering the past it used to be that christians didn't do these things but now they do.

And then i'm not just talking about that kind of thing.

I'm talking about what we do in the church.

For example there are those in the church in certain churches

and they would say agree with john calvin that the church should only sing psalms nothing

else just old testament.

Other

churches

expect

that we should try to

agree on issues like this and you can probably think of a lot more issues.

And we have let's see we have a few more questions for

you.

Let's see here.

Oh ok we have christian in suffolk

county long island new york.

Christian says.

I agree with you that many churches have abandoned their biblical roots.

But i would say that and i think that you may disagree with me that one of the reasons why they

have felt the liberty to be free from their biblical roots is because they have

abandoned those statements of faith that once held together those critical

doctrines that you mentioned when a pastor or group of elders is free to interpret the bible

in any way they see fit a church is more likely to veer off the true

road off into a ditch.

And therefore you have denominations like the PCUSA the presbyterian church united

states of america which is the most liberal of the presbyterians that abandoned the

westminster and therefore were free to adopt all kinds of liberal and leftist

and abominable ideas.

What are your responses to that.

One of the key things that he said

anytime you approach you have to

you may argue with and certainly unbelievers would argue with.

There are certain axioms that mean certain principles that are beyond dispute.

So when you come to the word of god there are certain axioms.

One is that god

is

a god who has revealed himself

he has done that by he

has revealed himself

and he certainly has revealed much about himself in creation.

So god is a god of revelation.

Now if we understand that god has revealed himself in these ways we are

therefore tied to his revelation we are not free to

do those.

For scripture, no, what we have to do is take god's revelation.

Now when we get god's general

revelation the revelation that he is to

salvation

something about the glory helps us understand

something about the majesty.

But we need biblical revelation

to tell us about.

We come to

the bible

with that understanding that this is the revelation of god.

He has given it to us in human language.

Certain principles with regard to language.

We make an

assumption about scripture.

If god is perfect.

If he is perfect then any product of his

be perfect.

The

word of god is perfect.

If

god's word is perfect if god's word is reliable and jesus said

we know that what we need to know with regard to these subjects

can be found.

Issue that confuses us, the thing where we have the battle

is the interpretation revelation.

There are no contradictions.

So when you come across a contradiction what you have to understand is you haven't understood it properly yet

and that demands that you go back and work at it a

lifetime occupation.

And the more you study the more diligent you are the more prayerful you are.

Then make judgments about doctrine.

Or whether it's the way we live or whether it's the way we worship whatever it is scripture

we can be confident that we know

what scripture says that we know.

So my

rather than

just take

in one of our callers today early on

but I love it.

I hang around after

throughout my ministry.

What about this.

Or I'm not sure I

understood this or I'm not sure.

I agree with you on this.

Let's look at the word of god together let's come to an understanding of the truth.

And they may go away from me saying well I'm not sure I'm convinced yet.

Ok but think about it read it again.

Pray over it.

And it's amazing sometimes.

You brought up the regulative principle before and there are those who would

say that they adhere to the regulative principle who do disagree with each other even amongst

those who use that term.

For instance you have some who as you said are exclusive psalmists or exclusive psalm

singers.

You have some that don't use musical instruments but on those issues.

And there are some that do by the way like for instance many reformed baptists would believe in

hymns because of biblical texts like Ephesians 5 19

where we are to sing psalms hymns and spiritual songs.

And they would interpret that just the way it seems to be plain to understand that we

can use hymns and spiritual songs that are not necessarily the God breathed psalms because even those

that are exclusive psalmists have to change the words around to fit into their melodies and

so on.

But other than those things that we could grapple over using the Bible like Ephesians 5

19 and so on when it comes to something like music

how do we settle our disputes.

When it comes to the other things that you were talking about the melodies and

rhythms and so on that are involved in music where there is harsh

dividing divisive disagreement and you even have like for instance I'll give you an example

I when I worked for WMCA radio some of my

clients were fundamentalist baptists.

They had a program that was titled the fundamental baptist forum that I

helped them to arrange.

And when they would have meetings they would sometimes get into very serious

disagreement even amongst themselves even though they were very strict

and very dedicated to the inerrancy of scripture and very against very much against

rock music and things that were considered to be modern

music.

They even disagreed with each other like for instance they would say things like you know you played a song on the

program that sounded too much like a country song.

Country music is filled with all kinds of references to licentiousness and drunkenness.

I don't want any kind of music like that on the program if I'm going to be a part of it.

You have all these finer points being disagreed upon and over

how do you get through that kind of dispute.

That's why I'm saying we need to think.

Just take what you just said as an example.

Anything in our churches that sounds like country music

is

filled

with

considerations

even when

it comes to style because

you might hear a gospel song sung in a country style.

And your mind especially if say before you were saved you were very much an advocate

of you

might have a little problem with that.

If you have a problem with that then you should separate yourself from that.

It's

a

much larger issue than I could even begin to think

again.

It's a matter

to

make you dance

or to bring out.

John in Bangor, Maine says although you want us to base all of our theology on

the scriptures because they are the only things that we have that are inerrant do

you believe that we can make much use of great men of history whose writings are not

God breathed such as the great heroes of the faith like Charles Spurgeon like George Whitfield

and the list could go on and on.

Are these valuable tools that we should utilize or should they be shunned because they are not inerrant.

Absolutely valuable and I've read many of them

that when you read these.

Amen.

And it can be a sign of pride and arrogance if we believe that we don't need

anyone to teach us because of the fact that there are even

qualifications that the Bible itself the inerrant scriptures instruct us that

there are requirements for teachers.

You know we're not supposed to just go off into the woods with a Bible and think that we don't need anybody

else in order to understand everything that's in there.

No and I'm not advocating that.

Of course.

What I'm advocating is.

And let's see we have Susan Margaret

in Dauphin County Pennsylvania that asks what are your opinions of

our Presbyterian brothers.

Do you consider men like R .C. Sproul and James Montgomery Boyce and many others

among them to be valuable.

Helps to understanding the scriptures in spite of your disagreements with them.

Yes I have occasions where I have used

and I would say

bad mouth.

They just sort of come to mind.

I guess one reason that they come to mind is I mean

I'm aware of

and I

don't agree with it.

Decided not to agree with it and not because

I said oh no that can't be.

What I make is to subject everything to scriptures.

Again we say that this is true.

The scriptures say that that's true.

If it my own life I can.

I got.

When I

was I turned

to around the

margin every

single verse.

I wasn't

thinking straight right there.

In Ephesians 1 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.

But that can't be John 3 16 and all the standard arguments against

it.

And I argued in my mind against election for a long time until I finally

realized.

Scripture teaches that God chose us before the foundation of the world and if I'm going to be

faithful to the word of God I have to accept it.

Regardless of what my gut feeling is and my prejudices and my desire for human autonomy

I have to say simply submit to God and say yes.

Thank you Father for preaching the

gospel.

I had a battle with that but eventually.

Amen.

And praise God for that I'd like you to have

five minutes or so perhaps four because we're running out of time of uninterrupted time that you can summarize what

you most want etched in the hearts and minds of our listeners before we depart this program.

And of course I want to have time to give your contact information again.

Well I would just simply urge each listener first of all don't

neglect

the word

of God

because that forms the background against which

that you are going and in your church where you have

advocate some hard thinking to see if you can't

because it is so much better to have a unified congregation and many of these

issues can

be possibly

like minded to be united in

spirit and to care about the same thing which to my mind according

that would be my plea.

I just simply with persons

I may

not disagree with some of their theology

but that.

Well I want to thank you so much Pastor Ron for being our guest today once again on Iron

Sharpens Iron Radio and I want to make sure that our listeners have all of your

contact information.

I know once again the website for Wading River Baptist Church is

wrbc .us wrbc .us.

The website for Faith FM also known as Eastgate Broadcasting where

you can hear the River of Life radio program every Saturday at

930 a .m. Eastern Time and every Sunday at 7 .30 p .m. Eastern Time is

eastgatebroadcasting .com.

It's eastgate broadcasting .com and you have any other further information that

you care to share.

As far as...

You're interested in contacting us our Telephone number here at the church is

631 92935.

Great.

I think it would probably good for me to reiterate here that in spite of the fact that

may have seemed that we were disagreeing on a lot of things today, that you and I

both share a very strong position on the doctrines of sovereign grace

and that we have far far more in common than we have in disagreement.

Would I be correct in saying that brother?

Hey, iron sharpens iron.

Amen.

Well I hope that you all continue listening to the program this week and I

also ask of you to continue to pray for the future of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.

I ask of you to once again consider prayerfully donating to us if you are

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Also if you know of any upcoming events that you think that

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to help promote Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.

I want to thank Pastor Ron Glass for being our guest today.

I want to thank everybody who listened especially those who took the time to write in questions today and I want you all to

always remember for the rest of your lives that Jesus Christ is a far greater Savior than you are

a sinner.

God bless.