William Wilberforce

I prepared this for the blog some time ago, but I failed to publish it. Please keep us and the people of Galati in your prayers.

Recently, while waiting for the time for me to go to Romanian class, I was listening to the “Truth For Life” broadcast with Alistair Begg, which I had downloaded before leaving our home in Galati. I have been listening to these broadcast for several years. At the time of my downloading he was finishing the study of the first chapter of James. I have been very interested in works, and works relationship to a persons assurance of salvation as a sign of that relationship with God. During this message he made reference to the epitaph of William Wilberforce whose life was recently portrayed in the movie “Amazing Grace”. I have copied it from the on line Westminster Abbey site:


TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE (BORN IN HULL AUGUST 24th 1759, DIED IN LONDON JULY 29th 1833;) FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AND, FOR SIX PARLIAMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD, ONE OF THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FOR YORKSHIRE. IN AN AGE AND COUNTRY FERTILE IN GREAT AND GOOD MEN, HE WAS AMONG THE FOREMOST OF THOSE WHO FIXED THE CHARACTER OF THEIR TIMES; BECAUSE TO HIGH AND VARIOUS TALENTS, TO WARM BENEVOLENCE, AND TO UNIVERSAL CANDOUR, HE ADDED THE ABIDING ELOQUENCE OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE. EMINENT AS HE WAS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LABOUR, AND A LEADER IN EVERY WORK OF CHARITY, WHETHER TO RELIEVE THE TEMPORAL OR THE SPIRITUAL WANTS OF HIS FELLOW-MEN, HIS NAME WILL EVER BE SPECIALLY IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE EXERTIONS WHICH, BY THE BLESSING OF GOD, REMOVED FROM ENGLAND THE GUILT OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, AND PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN EVERY COLONY OF THE EMPIRE: IN THE PROSECUTION OF THESE OBJECTS HE RELIED, NOT IN VAIN, ON GOD; BUT IN THE PROGRESS HE WAS CALLED TO ENDURE GREAT OBLOQUY AND GREAT OPPOSITION: HE OUTLIVED, HOWEVER, ALL ENMITY; AND IN THE EVENING OF HIS DAYS, WITHDREW FROM PUBLIC LIFE AND PUBLIC OBSERVATION TO THE BOSOM OF HIS FAMILY. YET HE DIED NOT UNNOTICED OR FORGOTTEN BY HIS COUNTRY: THE PEERS AND COMMONS OF ENGLAND, WITH THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND THE SPEAKER AT THEIR HEAD, IN SOLEMN PROCESSION FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE HOUSES, CARRIED HIM TO HIS FITTING PLACE AMONG THE MIGHTY DEAD AROUND, HERE TO REPOSE: TILL, THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY REDEEMER AND SAVIOUR, (WHOM, IN HIS LIFE AND IN HIS WRITINGS HE HAD DESIRED TO GLORIFY,) HE SHALL RISE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.

Here is the life story of a man who proved his faith by his actions. Not for his own glory like Oprah of our time, but for the good of others. James says it in chapter 2 verse 26.
Jam 2:26 So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.
So if you are happy in your “salvation” and you cannot show God “this is how I am living for you” then you have nothing to be happy for:
Jam 2:18 But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions."
Jam 2:19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe---and tremble with fear.
Jam 2:20 You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?
Time for a personal salvation check. Paul writes:
Eph 2:8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.
Eph 2:10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.
Do not be found without bearing good fruit:
Luke 3:9 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire."
Really consider your salvation by looking at your own life. If you do not love you brother:
1Jo 4:20 If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.
1Jo 4:21 The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.
If God is not living in your heart, invite Him in today!

Link to Truth For Life:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Truth_for_Life/archives.asp?bcd=9/29/2008