ELECTION AND COMING TO CHRIST

In Matthew 11:27, the Savior made crystal clear the fact that no one can know God unless God reveals Himself to them. “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him”

Everyone understands the Lord is saying that we are completely dependent on God to save us and reveal Himself to us.

Yet in no way does that mean we are not responsible to come to Christ. The very next words out of the Savior’s mouth were “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What encouragement to come to Christ! The Savior commands us to come. Come to Christ begging that He save you and reveal the Father to you.

Pastor

Faith is trusting Christ. It is the end of the mystery and the beginning of simplicity; the giving up of all those idle feelings and believings that aught else can save the soul, and the reception of the one master thought, that Christ Jesus is exalted on high to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins.

Charles Spurgeon

HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM BRETHREN

This has to be one of the most blessed verses that a sorry, saved sinner can hear; that the Lord of Glory is not ashamed to call us brethren. O how ashamed we are of ourselves. As the Lord said through Ezekiel, after hearing of all that the Lord has and will do for us, “ye shall remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations” (Ezek. 36:31). And yet, the Lord God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is not ashamed of those He died for; not ashamed of them, though they have shamefully sinned against Him and will do so again; nevertheless, He is not ashamed of them, for He knows their frame; He knows their hearts; He knows their spirits are willing but their flesh is weak. He knows they believe Him (He gave them the faith) though they often act and speak like they don’t. He knows they love Him (He gave them that love) though they sometimes act and speak like they don’t. He knows them, like a Father knows His child, like a brother knows His kin, like a husband knows His wife. He knows them better than they know themselves and so He is not ashamed to call them brethren. We can’t help but think of Joseph, when He revealed himself to his brethren; those sorry brothers who hated him, sold him, and forgot about him. But Joseph never forgot about them, and when the Lord brought them into Joseph’s hands, to do with them as he pleased, Joseph (a type of Christ), was not ashamed to own them as his brethren. Some of his first words to them were, “I am Joseph your brother”. . . And the fame thereof (Joseph was famous for love and mercy) was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brethren are come” (Gen.45:4,16).

What a loving, merciful, longsuffering, kind, compassionate, patient and understanding Elder Brother we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. O how we ought to fear sinning against such love; fear doing anything to put Him to shame. But if and when we do, what hope and comfort it will give us in knowing that “He is not ashamed to call them brethren” and none who put their trust in Him will ever be put to shame; they will never be disowned by Him, for He abideth faithful.