RAWLINGS WRITES AGAIN
A Sermon on Falling from Grace, with Bible References
(From Wednesday’s Daily)
J.S. Rawlings, whose lease of life, if the sentence of the court is carried out, is less than two weeks, has written The Times the following letter, with the request that we publish it. Rawlings still contends that he is eternally lost, and below gives Bible references in support of his contention:
Valdosta, Ga., Nov. 21, 1906
Editor Times:
Some newspapers have accused me of seeking notoriety, which is not true, but realizing the awfulness of sin, and knowing that my time is short here, I would like to warn some to flee the wrath to come. Therefore, will you please publish this letter for me?
We find in James 5:20 that if we convert a sinner from the error of his way, we save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins. I see in the papers a great temperance wave has swept Valdosta, and I wish those people success and will warn them to watch their fort on all sides, lest while they dig up the tares, they ruin the wheat.
I read in history of a warrior who would slip in behind the enemy and kill a great many, so I say to the temperance people, watch on all sides, lest Satan come in from some point you are not watching and creep in unawares. Christ told his disciples to watch and pray, lest they enter into temptation.
I know that some say you can’t fall away, but I know the Bible teaches that we can. A preacher told me a few days ago that he heard another preacher say that he is saved, and if he was to kill a man and be hung, he would go to heaven. I don’t any more believe that than I believe Jesus Christ was an infidel. I know that the Bible teaches we can fall, and of the danger of falling, and that is what I want to warn the people against.
Falling from grace and sinning against the Holy Ghost is not taught in the Bible, and I hope those who read this will read the Bible carefully, when they will see that I am right. Falling from grace is a Christian getting in a careless and lukewarm condition, and neglecting his Christian duties. See God’s threat against the church of the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:14, 15, 16, and also in other places.
The sin against the Holy Ghost is different; it is the Christian who sins willfully and knowingly. In the old law, people were forbidden to pray for those who sinned knowingly. Christ said there is no forgiveness for it. John said not to pray for it. I hope those who read this will take a reference Bible and trace the subject thoroughly; if you will, you will see that the Bible teaches people can sin a sin unto death, a sin for which there is no forgiveness promised either in this world or the world to come.
I give a few of the most prominent passages on this subject: Numbers 15:30; Deut. 17:13; Ps. 19:13; Jeremiah 7, 14:15-16; Matt. 12:31; Hebrews 6:4, 5, 10:26-28; 1 John 5:16. These are only a few of the many passages in the Old and New Testaments which refer to this subject.
I know there is a difference of opinion on the subject, but I ask all who believe the Bible to read the Word and see what it says. Some people believe one part of the Bible, others another part, and some say they don’t believe any of it. I believe every word in the Bible, and that it is given us as a history of the ages past to show how the wicked have been destroyed and to warn us in this gospel age.
The New Testament is an account of the life and teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came into the world to pay a plan of salvation whereby we might be saved. When we accept as a sacrifice Christ Jesus, we say we denounce sin of every kind, and that is where the warning in Hebrews 10:19, 26 comes in, where it is said that if we sin willfully after that, there is no more sacrifice, and it shows that certain destruction awaits us.
In Jude 6, the angels which fell are reserved in chains to the judgment day. Some teach us that we can’t fall, but I say be careful how you treat the Spirit of grace, for the parting of the ways with some is sad. Oh, most wretched indeed.
I hope other papers will print this, as it may cause some to hold fast to the new and living way. May God help.
Respectfully,
J.G. Rawlings.