"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, "What is written in the law?" How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." Luke 10:25 -37

"What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" asked the lawyer, "What is written in the law?" asked our Lord.

So often our answers are found in the Scriptures which were written for our learning. The law wasn't given that a man might have eternal life. The man which doeth those things shall live by them. Who did all the things of the law, except our Lord? Nonetheless, this lawyer gave the right answer saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." Where in the commandments does it tell a man how he can love the Lord? The Lord must speak the word of life into a man. The ability to memorize Scriptures and the capability to answer theological questions are not fail safe evidences that one loves the Lord. A humble and a contrite spirit is more convincing evidence. The scripture says that lawyer was "willing to justify himself". He didn't ask the Lord, "Who is my Lord?" He asked, "Who is my neighbor?"

There are some that are being taken advantage of in life's journey. Sadly, there are thieves in the world set to act unneighborly. These thieve will strip you of your raiment, and wound and depart, leaving you half-dead. The dead in trespasses and sins have no concern for being clothed. These are dead, not half-dead as the Arminians portray them. The dead are incapable of being wounded and cannot take one step, much less take a journey. One remains dead until the Lord does His operation calling man to life.

Thieves in sheep's clothing seem preoccupied with fleecing those with a hope in Christ. So many fall for head over heals for their offers. We see them selling books on the so-called Biblical way of prosperity, or a course on miracles. But the Scriptures and preaching are sufficient for learning to the man of God.

"Ah!" Some will say, "Didn't Philip instruct the Ethiopian eunuch who was on his journey from Jerusalem where he worshipped?" Indeed, the eunuch had come from worshipping God. Philip didn't make the eunuch a worshipper. The Ethiopian was reading the book of Esaias and Philip preached Christ unto him. Preaching is one way God has ordained to comfort His people (see Isa. 40: 1&2). Preaching that comforts God's people conforms to the Scriptures that were given for our learning and comfort (Romans 15:4). Our Lord said to those he sent out, "And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give (Mathew 10: 7&8)" Philip asked for no "love offering" from the eunuch.

But on any given day there are many trying to fleece God's people. They are willing to "give" them something in exchange for a "love offering". That's no more than a business transaction! But that's the foundation of their theology. They mislead the child of God saying that those dead in trespasses and sins are on a journey. They would have men believe that they can change their hell bent course to a heavenly course by simply transacting a deal with God. Strangely, the Arminian minister always seems to be the middle man. They confuse advertising with preaching and pitch that God's is offering salvation to all man. They implore men to take God up on His offer. But in so doing the Arminians discount the sovereignty of God. The righteousness of Christ given to His elect is stripped away and the sensible sinner is left with the impression that he can either choose eternal life and heaven or choose to perish eternally in hell. But Christ is the Saviour of His people! The offer He made was to God and not to man. Where is the comfort? Where is the truth and the good news to God's people? I wouldn't give two cents for Arminian theology.

The journeying Samaritan had compassion on that one that had fallen among thieves. Unlike the priest and the Levite, the Samaritan didn't just pass by him on the other side. The law doesn't make a man compassionate, anymore than the law will make one love the Lord. But if one passes by his neighbor in distress how shall he say that he loves his neighbour? The Samaritan went to him and bound up his wounds and poured in oil and wine, and took him to the inn. The Samaritan paid the cost for the inn and took care of that poor man. That is a far cry from those that hold "conventions" requiring the participants to acquire lodging at their own expense to attend their seminars to teach them how to win souls and influence people.

After this discourse our Lord asked the lawyer, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" The lawyers said, "He that shewed mercy on him." Then said Jesus unto him, "Go, and do thou likewise."

Our Lord didn't say, "Except ye be born again, ye cannot be compassionate and show your neighbor mercy." Nor does He say, "Unless you contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints that you cannot have compassion on your neighbour." Compassion is not commanded to, or to the benefit of the elect only. If perfect compassion were required for a home in heaven then none born of Adam would have a hope. We have all fallen short of God's compassion in Christ the Lord. If a man can't understand that having compassion for others is required to live peaceably in this world, then surely he would not desire the peace of God that passeth all understanding and the inheritance of eternal life. Such a man wouldn't give two pence for either that peace or that inheritance. 4/4/06 Elder Marty Hoogasian