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  THE DELUSION OF PROGRESS
  by Horatius Bonar
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Summary: The delusion of progress is a false idea that humanity can
achieve salvation and true progress without God, and that human reason
and intellect are sufficient for salvation.

Topics: "False Teachings", "True Progress"
Scripture References: Matthew 24:24, John 3:3, Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Galatians 1:6-7, Ephesians 2:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, James 1:17, 1 John 2:18

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DESCRIPTION
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Horatius Bonar warns against the antichristian delusions that have
existed since the days of the apostles, where false Christs arise to
undermine the true Christ. He emphasizes that throughout history, these
antichrists have distorted truth, promoting human intellect and goodness
while dismissing the need for divine regeneration. Bonar argues that
what humanity often perceives as progress is merely an illusion, as true
progress can only be achieved through the Holy Spirit. He calls for
discernment in recognizing the difference between worldly advancements
and the spiritual growth that God acknowledges. Ultimately, he stresses
that without regeneration, humanity cannot attain genuine progress.

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CONTENT
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Antichristian delusion had begun in the apostle's days. Men were arising
to deny Christ; to set up another Christ of their own,--a Christ of the
intellect, a Christ of the sense, a Christ of the imagination. Long ere
the first century closed there were many antichrists,--pretended
Christs,--substitutes for the Son of God. Every age has produced its
antichrists, all of them earnests of, and preparations for, the greater
antichrist of the very last days, when perilous times shall come.

In and by all these antichrists Satan is working, not only to exalt
himself, but to dishonour Christ,--working even by means of men who
laugh at the existence of an evil spirit. He is working by means of
error,--pure error; also by error in connection with truth, and truth in
connection with error; exalting the natural at the expense of the
supernatural; raising science above Scripture; denying human evil,
upholding human goodness; setting creature-hood in opposition to
Godhead, intellect against revelation, self-improvement against
regeneration by the Holy Ghost, worldly refinement against the example
of Christ. Everything in the shape of human 'progress' is welcomed,
without considering what it is or whence it comes. But the progress of
the natural man is, after all, an illusion. So long as humanity remains
unregenerate, there can be no progress which God can recognize. The one
true progress is that begun and consummated by the Holy Ghost,--a
progress quite distinct from all that man calls by that name.

-Taken from Light & truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, Vol. IV, The
Lesser Epistles, 1870.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/horatius-bonar/the-delusion-of-progress/
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