“It Is Finished” (John 19:30)

Years ago, someone asked me how long it took me to finish a painting. My answer was this, “You never finish a painting…you just come to a stopping point.” Concerning all efforts on man’s part, nothing can truly be said to be finished. There is always something found, even with our most careful efforts that can be done to improve our labor.

But concerning the work of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary…His death to satisfy the justice of God for an everlastingly loved people…His death to put away the guilt of His bride by the shedding of His blood for her…HE said…“It is finished.” By His declaration, we know that the debt and guilt of our sins has truly been paid and put away in His precious blood. According to His word, the sins of God’s chosen people shall never be brought up before God or punished again. This we know because the Father accepted His sacrifice on behalf of His sheep and proved His acceptance by raising Him from the dead (Rom. 4:25). Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Perfect Peace

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.”(Isaiah 26:3).

Are you happy? Yes! But I am not without times of sorrow and depression. Like any human, I weep over loved ones, friends, sickness, death, and disappointment. But I sorrow not as those who have no hope. CHRIST IS MY HOPE! He loved me, gave Himself for me, and will make ALL THESE THINGS work together for my eternal good.

Are you at rest in your soul? Yes! But I am not free from concern and conviction over my sins and my infirmities. I love Christ but not as I should or as I desire. I am satisfied with Him, His mercy, His grace, and His love; but, I will never be totally satisfied until I wake with His likeness.

Do you have peace? Yes! But that peace with God, peace of conscience, and peace in any situation or condition is not based on my merit, feelings, nor religious duties. CHRIST IS MY PEACE! He said, “In ME ye have peace. In the world ye shall have trouble.”

Any man or woman who claims continual, uninterrupted joy, rest, and peace in this world is either not telling the truth or has no connection with reality! True joy, rest, and peace are things we enjoy in Christ IN THE MIDST of troubles, afflictions, and infirmities.

Paul’s exhortation was “rejoice in the Lord.” When I am conscious of my weakness, failure, and sins, I rejoice in Christ, my righteousness. When I am concerned about food, clothing, and shelter, I rejoice in Christ, my provider. When I am grieved, Christ is my comfort. When I am faced with death, Christ is my life! So, it is not necessary to put on a false face and deceive others. We are still human; but, our peace, rest, and joy is Christ.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan

When is a Sinner Saved?

Men have debated this question for millenniums. Most of the controversy stems from man’s effort to reconcile the temporal to the eternal. Living in a world of time and space, he tries to define the when in this question as a single event! Scripture settles all controversies. So, what sayeth the scriptures?

1). God’s elect were saved in the covenant of grace established by God in eternity past (2 Timothy 1:9; Is. 45:17; 2Thes. 2:13).

2). God’s elect were saved when Christ bore their sins on Calvary’s Cross 2000 years ago. (Rom 5:9-10; Jer. 23:6).

3). God’s elect are saved when they hear the gospel as the gospel and are made willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 10:9-13).

4). God’s elect are continuing to be saved as they are kept by the power of God to keep coming in faith to Christ. (Is. 64:5; I Peter 2:4).

5). God’s elect will be saved when they are taken to glory to see their Savior face to face and be made like Him (sinless). (Rev. 12:10; 2 Peter 3:12-15; I Peter 1:9).

All five of these glorious truths (Election, Redemption, Regeneration, Sanctification and Glorification) are necessary for a sinner’s salvation. Let others speak of when they “got saved”. We don’t hang the hopes of our salvation on one subjective experience in time. Our faith is in Him who does all the saving. We have been saved; we are being saved; and we shall be saved. “And being made perfect He became the author of ETERNAL SALVATION unto all them that obey Him.” (Heb. 5:9).