The Love of Christ

A believer lay dangerously ill. He had lived and labored faithfully in the same church for many years. His friends gathered at his home to pray for him. As one of the men prayed, he was heard to say, “Lord, Thou knowest how he loved Thee.”

The sick man opened his eyes and said, “Please do not pray like that. When Mary and Martha sent for Christ to come to the aid of their brother, they did not say, ‘he who LOVES THEE is sick’; but they said, ‘HE WHOM THOU lovest is sick’.” (John 11:3).

It is not our love for Christ that removes fear and disease, but His love for us.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1985)

That I May Know Him

Before the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he knew the law, he knew the traditions, and he thought he knew God. But when the Lord crossed his path on the Damascus Road, and revealed himself to Paul, then he found out who Christ is. He was never the same. And from that day forward Paul’s aim and desire was to know more about the one who knew him. It was all about knowing a person, not just knowing a doctrine. 2 Timothy 1:12; “I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Paul was not afraid to preach the one he knew, he was not ashamed of him, because the one He knew was not ashamed of him. This gave him a boldness to preach his Gospel, and he wanted others to know this one that he knew. Romans 1:16; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Pastor Mike Walker

The Believer’s Resolve

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

It was the resolution of the apostle Paul to make known unto his hearers one thing and one thing only. It was not to tell them why they should be faithful in attending worship services, although every true believer will be faithful to come and hear the gospel preached. Paul’s determination was not to school them on how to act, dress or instruct them on how they should give to support the ministry, even though every child of God will act and dress appropriately and give to support the cause of Christ as God enables. Paul’s resolve most certainly wasn’t to tell those who heard him about the moral decay of secular societies or to discuss the politics of Agrippa or the unjust laws and prejudices of the Roman government. Paul’s determination and resolve involved one thing and that was to proclaim, “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Pastor David Eddmenson

GOD IS ABLE

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform”(Romans 4:20-21).

All believers like Abraham have been fully persuaded and taught by the Holy Spirit that God is able to perform all His pleasure (Eph. 1: 11). God-given faith is altogether persuaded and totally satisfied in the ability of the sovereign God to accomplish all our salvation. David prayed this way, "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57.2). Believers rest in the awesome ability of God, not in any mundane ability of the flesh. We say with the apostle Paul, "We rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). If we would take a close look at the Word of God we can see that God is able to perform all things for us in salvation.

1. HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST (Heb. 7:25)!

The disciples asked the Lord Jesus Christ, "Who then can be saved?" He replied, "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10: 27); because of our total ruin in Adam (Rom. 5:12). Because of our sinful condition by nature we are unable to improve our standing before God (Rom. 3: 9-19). But, Jesus Christ became the Surety and Mediator of His people and fully effected salvation for them through His blood and righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

2. HE IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING (Jude 1: 24)!

There are some people who teach that a man can be saved one day and lost the next. But this sort of teaching is foreign to the Word of God. The believer is kept by the power of God (I Peter 1:5). Jesus Christ gives His sheep eternal life and they shall never perish (John 10:27-30).

3. HE IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP (Acts 20:32)!

When the apostle Paul was about to leave a group of believers at Ephesus; he strongly commended them to God, and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up. The Word of God is the children's bread upon which we grow and are nourished with spiritual strength (1 Peter 2.2).

4. HE IS ABLE TO SUBDUE ALL UNTO HIMSELF (Phil. 3:2I)!