6. Two classes of people
Wheat
The wheat means all who believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ,
All genuine believers, no matter
how vile they may see themselves
7. Two classes of people
Chaff
The chaff means all men and
women who have no saving faith in
Christ, and no sanctiïŹcation of the
Spirit, whosoever they may be.
Some of them perhaps are
inïŹdels, and some are formal
Christians.
8. Two classes of people
I know well the world dislikes this
way of dividing professing Christians.
The world tries hard to claim there are
three sorts of people, and not two.
Believers serious about their faith
Unbelievers
Saved, but not too extreme
9. Two classes of people
But, Scripture shows
1. There were two classes at the ïŹood â those
in the ark, and those outside
2. There are two classes in the parables â those
who are wise and those who are foolish,
good or bad
3. There are sheep and goats, the right hand or
the left, and two eternities â heaven or hell
Thus there is great cause for reïŹection and self-
examination!
10. When is the separation?
There is no separation yet.
Before Christ comes it is useless to
expect to see a perfect church.
There cannot be such a thing. The
wheat and the chaff, in the present
state of things, will always be
found together.
Before Christ comes it is vain to
look for the conversion of the
world. How can it be, if he is to
ïŹnd wheat and chaff side by side
in the day of his second coming?
Good and bad are now all
mingled together in the visible
church of Christ. Believers and
unbelievers,â converted and
unconverted,â holy and unholy,
â all are to be found
now among those
who call themselves
Christians.
11. When is the separation?
There lives not the minister on earth who can
read the hearts of everyone in his
congregation. The most experienced pastor
must scarcely attempt to do so. Certainly, if he
feels so much trouble about the matter that he
takes it to his Lord and asks for directions as to
how to deal with these tares, he will be told to
let them grow on till harvest time, lest in
rooting up the tares he should root up, also,
the wheat with them.
Grace is sometimes so weak and feeble, that it looks like nature.
Nature is sometimes so plausible and well dressed, that it looks like
grace.
12. The Portion of Christâs People
The Lord cares for his believing
people in their lives, their
deaths, and in the day of his
appearing
They shall be âcaught up to
meet the Lord in the airâ (1
Thess. 4: 17). Jesus will do
nothing to a sin-laden world till
all his people are safe, just as
there was an ark for Noah
when the ïŹood began.
The Lord takes
pleasure in his
believing people.
Though black in
their own eyes,
they are comely
and honorable in
his. They are all fair. He sees
âno spotâ in them
(Song of Sol. 4: 7).
13. The Portion for those who are not
Christâs
Their punishment shall be most
severe. There is no pain like that of
burning.
Their punishment shall be eternal.
14. The Portion for those who are not
Christâs
There is great inïŹdelity about hell
I know that some do not believe there is
any hell at all. They think it impossible
there can be such a place. They call it
inconsistent with the mercy of God.
They say it is too awful an idea to be
really true. The devil of course rejoices
in the views of such people. They help
his kingdom mightily. They are
preaching up his own favorite doctrine:
âYe shall not surely dieâ (Gen. 3: 4).
15. The Portion for those who are not
Christâs
I know, that some do not believe that hell is
eternal. They tell us that a compassionate
God will not punish men forever. He will
surely open the prison doors at last. This also
is a mighty help to the devilâs cause.
I know also that some believe there is a hell,
but never allow that anybody is going there.
And I know very well that some believe there
is a hell, and never like it to be spoken of. The
wolf would like the shepherd to sleep while
he prowls round the fold. The devil rejoices
when Christians are silent about hell.
16. The Portion for those who are not
Christâs
All these notions are the opinions of
man. But what is it to you and me what
man thinks in religion? Man will not
judge us at the last day. There is but
one point to be settled: âWhat says the
Word of God?â
Do you believe the Bible? Then depend
upon it, hell is real and true
Do you believe the Bible? Then depend
upon it, hell will have inhabitants.
17. The Portion for those who are not
Christâs
Do you believe the Bible? Then
depend upon it, hell will be intense
and unutterable woe.
Do you believe the Bible? Then
depend upon it, hell is eternal. It must
be eternal, or words have no meaning
at all.
Do you believe the Bible? Then
depend upon it, hell is a subject that
ought not to be avoided.
18. Beware!
Beware of false views of this separation
If you manufacture a God of your own
imagination, who is all mercy and without
justice, he is as much an idol as any
conceived.
Beware of forming fanciful theories of
your own, and trying to make the Bible
square up with them. What does it amount
to but telling God, that you, a poor short-
lived worm, know what is good for you
better than he. Rom 9:20: âBut who are
you, O man, to answer back to God?â
19. Concluding Thoughts
All these things are real and true
The wheat, the chaff, the separating, the
garner, the ïŹre,â all these are great
realities,â as real as the sun in heaven.
These things concern you
These things are not only for the rich, or
only for the poor
They are not only for a particular group
They are for everyone â you are either
among the wheat or among the chaff
20. Concluding Thoughts
Christ is willing to receive you
Come to him today!
If you are determined to have the
world â pleasures, rewards, follies
and sins â if you must have your own
way, and cannot give up anything for
Christ and your soul, you will sooner
or later come to the unquenchable ïŹre.
If you have come to Christ, he will never
allow your soul to perish
21. Concluding Thoughts
I commend these things to the notice
of everyone into whose hands this
volume may fall. Only be among
Christâs âwheatâ now, and then, in the
great day of separation, as sure as the
Bible is true, you shall be in Christâs
âbarnâ hereafter.
