THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH WHICH WORKS BY LOVE

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ga 5:5-6

Believers, both in the Old and New Testament, had hope, the “hope of righteousness” which they received “by faith.” Faith in Christ who is the Lord our Righteousness! This is the promise of God and He enabled Abraham to believe it as well as all His people in this present hour. It is the hope of eternal life in Christ who is our Life. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6) In other words, Abraham was right to believe and be assured that God had given him eternal life through the death of the coming Christ. God was right (just) to bless Abraham with this and all other gifts of His grace in Christ crucified. It was and is Christ’s “obedience unto death, even the death of the cross” that is the one ground and just basis for both. God acted in love to give His only begotten Son for His people. Christ acted in love in giving Himself for them. They, having experienced such sacrificial love on their behalf and being quickened by the Spirit of God and given faith, act in love toward God. All they do, all their obedience toward God, is the “obedience of faith.” It is not out of a principle of fear or threatening and neither is it out of a principle of promised reward. No, it is faith which works by love which is the fruit of the Spirit. Believers in Christ have hope, the expectation of all God has promised them in Christ, which they have not yet received the full experience of. Theirs is the good hope of grace which is sure because of the obedience of Jesus Christ not them! “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Ro 5:19) The assurance of salvation by grace does not promote disobedience to God, rather, it motivates us to obedience, obedience out of love for Christ, knowing that it is not our obedience in any part that saves us or works for any blessing of God’s grace. The legalist has works and law cloaked in the thin cloak of grace but the believer’s hope is in the pure, free and sovereign grace of God through the obedience and death of the Lord Jesus Christ! Gary Shepard

GOD’S LOVE PERCEIVED

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1John 3:16

Out of necessity on our behalf; out of love on His behalf, Christ died for His sheep. God needs nothing - we need everything. The need of sinners and the love of God is culminated in the Person and work of Jehovah-Jireh (“The Lord will see” - “The Lord will provide” - “The Lord will be seen” - in that order). The apex of God’s infinite (not measurable: without any finite or measurable limits), unchangeable, sovereign love is perceived ONLY in God’s Lamb willingly sacrificed. The love of God for sinners is ONLY perceived by those chosen sinners for whom Christ laid down His life - “Hereby perceive we the love of God”. It is ONLY in the vicarious (done or endured by somebody as a substitute for somebody else) death of Christ that His sheep perceive their incomprehensible need of Him. It was only when the dying thief, with God-given eyes of faith, saw the dying Lamb of God, and in His death saw both God’s love for him and his need for Christ that he cried out for mercy, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom” Luke 23:42.

It is evident that those who embrace a universal love of God and a universal redemption do not perceive the love of God. Universalism annihilates the love of God and deifies the sinner. The holy perception of both the love of God and our great need for Christ constrains or moves the child of God to love for Him and the brethren, even to the sacrificing of ourselves to Him and them - “If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” Luke 14:26 - “because He laid down His life for us we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Tommy Robbins

The substance of faith that gives assurance and consolation is not feeling but fact. It is Christ and Him crucified. “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jn. 6:69

GS

CHRIST OUR LIFE AND DEATH OUR GAIN

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Php 1:21

To live is Christ, to die is gain

Is all our hope below

And God in grace through Jesus Christ

Has made it to be so.

To live is Christ, to die is gain

Upholds in ev’ry strife;

And this is all our hope and peace

In Christ who is our Life.

To live is Christ, to die is gain,

Tis all because of grace

And this we sing, our song of joy,

As here we run our race.

To live is Christ, to die is gain,

God’s mercies are in Him,

We in His changeless glory rest,

His blood has cleansed from sin.

To live is Christ, to die is gain,

Soothes ev’ry trial and pain;

And this we shall in glory say,

Praise Christ our Life and Gain!

8.6 8.6 O God Our Help

Gary Shepard

Written upon the death and remembrance of our brother and dear friend, Pastor Scott Richardson