Psalm 36:5-7

I Will and They Shall

God’s word is full of; “I Will and They Shall”. The man of sin who has proudly set himself on the throne of God reverses the order. Man says, “I will have faith, and God shall save me”. God says, “I will save you, and you shall have faith”. Man says, “I will repent, and God shall forgive me”. God says, “I will forgive you, and you shall repent”. Man says, “I will serve God, and He shall bless me”. God says, “I will bless you, and you shall serve me”. God’s “I WILLS” is His purpose, and God’s “THEY SHALLS” is His performance. What He has purposed, He shall also perform.

Pastor Greg Elmquist

The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

How complex and mysterious is the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah calls Him a CHILD and a COUNSELLOR. In the same breath he calls Him a SON, he calls Him the EVERLASTING FATHER. He who is an INFANT is the INFINITE GOD. The MAN OF SORROWS is THE MIGHTY GOD. DESPISED OF MEN, yet He is WONDERFUL. His garments are rolled in blood, but He is the PRINCE OF PEACE. How these words remind me that He is not discovered by research and reason but by revelation! He said to Peter, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed the knowledge of my glory to you, but the Father has revealed it.”

There is no seeing Christ nor understanding Christ except in HIS OWN LIGHT. He is the door, but he openeth and no man shutteth. He is the lesson, but He is also the teacher. He is the destination, but he is the Way. He is the object of faith, but He is also the author of faith. He is that which is to be seen and the light by which we see. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out” (Rom. 11:33). How empty are the words “the simple plan of salvation” in the light of this complex and mysterious person, Jesus Christ.

O, Spirit of God, sanctify our carnal thoughts and illuminate our dark understanding. Give us that saving knowledge of Him who enables God to be just and Justifier, who is both the wisdom and the power of God.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (1985 bulletin article)

Calling On The Lord For Salvation

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call” (Joel 2:32).

This prophecy and promise of God given through the prophet Joel is the same promise given by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:21. It is also repeated by the apostle Paul in Romans 10:13. Furthermore, it is also declared again by the apostle John in Revelation 22:17. It is a wide open and gracious promise that the Lord gives to sinners in need of mercy. But also, do not overlook who you are to call upon for salvation. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is salvation (John 14:6); that we are to call upon. Peter describes for us who the Lord is in Acts 2:22-24.

Verse 22…He is the man approved and sent of God (Gal. 4:4) .He is the only authorized God our Saviour that fully satisfied God (Acts 4:12). “This is my well beloved Son in whom I am well pleased’ (Matt. 3:17).

Verse 23…He is the only sacrifice for our sin that is also approved of God. This is God’s sacrificial Lamb (John 1:29), ordained to be the complete atonement for our sins; there is no other (2Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18).

Verse 24…He is the victorious Saviour. God raised Him from the dead. (Rom. 4:25). That is the theme of the preaching all through the book of Acts (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:33). Death, sin, Satan, the law and the grave have no claim on Him and no claim on us as we are one in Him (Rom.8:1; 32-35).

Rom. 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.