The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Psalm 33:11-12

Because He Lives

“Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).

So we, being crucified with Christ, raised from the dead, and seated with Him in the heavenlies, WILL NOT GO BACK to our old way of life; to dead works and religious traditions, to laws and Sabbaths, to sin and corruption; but we live unto God!

Because He lives, we live also (John 14:19); for we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3). Like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (2 Cor. 5:17).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1986)

Salvation According To God

If sinners are to be saved, it must be according to God. According as He hath chosen them in Christ before the foundation of the world. According to the good pleasure of His will in predestinating them unto the adoption of children. According to the riches of His grace in redeeming them. According to the good pleasure of His will in revealing the gospel to them. According to His eternal purpose which he works after the counsel of His own will. We can read all this in Ephesians chapter one.

Pastor John Chapman

BEING JUSTIFIED FREELY

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

What does it mean to be justified? I am sure that there have been many definitions given and I by no means can fully expound all that is involved in sinners being justified before God. However, I am sure that it means to be eternally pardoned from all sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18). It means to be acquitted and vindicated of all charges before the holy justice of God (Jude 24). It means to be made and regarded righteous in God’s sight (Col. 1:21-22).

How are sinners justified? By God as the source, "It is God that justifieth" (Rom. 8:33). By grace as the spring and fountain, "Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.3:24). By Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and blood atonement as the ground, "Being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Rom. 5:9). By His resurrection as the proof and evidence, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). By faith as the means to receive this salvation in Christ, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1).

PETER’S SIN AND REPENTANCE

“Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” (Matt. 26:75).

There has been much written and said of Peter’s failure and sin when he denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ but not much of Peter’s conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter sinned but he did not lose his salvation. His faith was weak but not dead. He sinned and failed miserably but he was not forsaken (Heb. 13:5). God brought Peter through this trial and granted him strength, recovery and a constant heart of repentance before God (Acts 5:11; 11:18). Here are four things we learn from Peter’s trial and repentance.

1). It was the working of God’s sovereign providence. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.” God used a rooster to bring to Peter’s mind what the Lord had said (Matt. 26:34). Often in the believer’s life God uses small insignificant things to bring us to a remembrance of the gospel. Despise not the day of small things (Zech. 4:10; Rom. 11:36).

2). It was the working of the effectual word of God. “Peter remembered the word of Jesus.” It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to quicken us and to reveal Himself to us (1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor. 4:5-7; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23). It is through the ministry of the Word, hearing and believing the word that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (1Peter 2:2; 1Thes. 2:13).

3). It was the working of the powerful grace of God. “The Lord turned and looked upon Peter” (Luke 22:61). The Lord looked upon Peter in pity love and pardon and I am sure that Peter also looked upon the Lord. Their eyes were fasted upon one another and Peter’s heart melted within him. It is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

4). It was the working of Jesus Christ as our blessed Mediator. “The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31). Peter’s faith was sorely tried, but it was not utterly destroyed (1Peter 1:5). Christ stood as his ever-living Mediator (Heb.7:25)! Peter was made stronger through this trial and was sent to preach the gospel to others.