Psalm 10:16-17

Mercy is the Sinner’s Sole Request

The sinner who truly comes to Christ does not come to have his earthly problems solved nor to have his body and bank account healed. He comes to be saved from sin; he comes to Christ for MERCY. Mercy is the sinner’s sole request.

If you, as a guilty sinner, have not come to Christ for mercy and redemption from your sins, you have not come to Christ aright. When He has saved us and made us His own, whatever He is pleased to bring to pass in our earthly lives will be for our good and His glory.

Be it success or failure, sorrow or joy, life or death – HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1984)

TRAINING

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not” (Hebrew 12:5-7).

As I ponder the words of these blessed verses in Hebrews chapter 12, I must admit that I too had forgotten this great exhortation and encouragement. First, it is a great encouragement to me because it is spoken to me as a child, a son of the living God. How beautiful are the words, “My son,” when they fall from the lips of God Almighty.

Sometimes things get rough and tough for the believing child of God. Often we get discouraged in these trials and troubles. But we shouldn’t! They are nothing more than the “chastening of the Lord.” This chastening comes from His hand. I find it very interesting that the word “chastening” in the original Greek means “training.” God is training us as His children. He is training us to trust and rely on Him no matter what He sends our way. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…” He trains, teaches, and reveals to us His will, purpose and providence, because He loves us. What must we do to assure our place as the children of God? Simply endure this chastening (this correcting, this training), knowing that God always does what is best for those whom He loves and who loves Him! When we endure all that God sends our way, we have the peace and comfort in knowing that God is dealing with us as His children, “for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

The next time you find yourself in trouble or facing a hard trial, remember that it is your heavenly Father that has sent it, and He has sent it for your good and for His glory, and thank Him for it.

Pastor David L. Eddmenson

“Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

When we feel oppressed and overcome by our sin and our sins, what a precious promise. He shall save. Notice the certainty of the language. His people are the objects of this great salvation from their sins. Here is what I need saved from…my sins! He shall save His people from the punishment of sin. He shall save His people from the power of sin. We can now do what we previously could not do when we were under the power of sin. We can now believe, repent, and love because sin no longer has dominion. And one day, blessed thought, we will be saved from the presence of sin. We will commit sin no longer. We will no longer remember what it was to be a sinner. Then we will understand. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”

Pastor Todd Nibert

Old John Newton once said, “When I get to heaven, I am sure that three things will simply astonish me:

1. I am sure very many will be there whom I never expected to be there.

2. I am sure that many will not be there whom I fully expected would be there.

3. But the most astonishing thing of all will be the fact that old John Newton will be there.”

Later, just before his death, Newton said, He said, “I am an old man. I cannot remember much. But I do remember two things; I am a great sinner and Jesus Christ is a great Saviour.”