The law never required giving. The law demanded a 10% tax called a tithe. The believer gives liberally because a heart of love and thanksgiving desires to give. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The believer’s hope of glory is not only Christ come in the flesh, Christ on the cross or Christ risen from the tomb. The believer’s hope of glory is Christ dwelling in the heart. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

We need to think as badly of sin as we can; think of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the evil of it, the wickedness of it, the horrible, long-lasting consequences of it . . . but never think of sin as being unpardonable. The Lord said, “All manner of sin shall be forgiven.” We should despair of ever finding any help or hope in ourselves, but never despair of finding help, hope, mercy and forgiveness in our Lord. The Lord delights to show mercy; is ready to pardon; and is an ever present help to all who need Him.

Pastor Paul Mahan

Fanny Crosby, the famous Methodist hymn writer and poet, once attended several services during a revival in New York and she said that her heart remained hard and unmoved while people all around her seemed to be greatly blessed of God. And it was this which caused her to return to her room and write the following lines-

“Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,

Hear my humble cry;

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.”

Friends, God isn’t going to bless any sinner who doesn’t have this attitude. Every idea of rights and merit must be put out of our minds before we can approach God. He deals with sinners on the grounds of pure grace—unmerited favor. Sinners are only received of God in the righteousness and worth of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Sinners are justified FREELY: that means that there is no obligation on God’s part and no work or worth on the part of the sinner. “The GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Now think about this” God has not set salvation before sinners on a timeless, propositional basis, whereby the sinner may take it as if he were making or closing a deal with God, in his own time, his own way and at his own arbitrary choosing! Yes, God has promised to save “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord,” but “how shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how can He be known except through the revelation of the Holy Spirit? (Matthew 16:17; Galatians 1:12-16; II Corinthians 4:6).

Yes, God has promised to save those who “call upon the name of the Lord,” but “no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Cor. 12:3); and the Holy Ghost is not like a water faucet which sinful men can turn on and off! (John 3:8; Philippians 2:13; Psalm 65:4).

Maurice Montgomery

Mercy that is not sovereign is merited and therefore not mercy at all. Grace that is not sovereign is unearned and therefore not grace. God said, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:19)