Psalm 95:1-3

Do You Love Him?

Peter was grieved when the Lord asked him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” It has been suggested that the Lord asked this question three times because Peter denied Him three times. I’m sure that the memory of that incident added to Peter’s grief that the Lord should keep repeating this same question. Peter appealed to the Lord’s complete knowledge of all things, of all hearts and thoughts, and replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:15-17).

This is the VITAL ISSUE for all professed Christians; “Do you love Christ?” It is not, do you love the sovereignty of God, the doctrine, the Bible, the church, or even the people of God (though you certainly will love all these if you love Christ). But DO YOU LOVE HIM? This is where life and hope and grace are born; love for Christ (1 Cor. 16:22). Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1987)

Look and Live

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live” (Num. 21:8).

The wounded person had simply to look and live; to look not at himself, not at his wounds, not at others around him, but directly and exclusively to God's remedy. He was called to fix his earnest gaze upon God's remedy, which was so placed that all might see it. If he refused to look at that, there was nothing for him but death. There was no possible need to look anywhere else, for the word was that everyone gets better when they look upon it, and they shall live. He was to look up to the brazen serpent, for the brazen serpent was God's exclusive remedy. To look anywhere else was to get nothing; to look at God's provision was to get life. No one could be saved by proxy; no one could look for another. There was life in a look, but the look had to be given. This was God's order then, and this is His order now. Look! Look to Christ and live! (Isaiah 45:21).

Pastor Scott Richardson

GOD DOES NOT REMEMBER WHAT IS NOT THERE

“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Heb. 10:17)

The blood of Christ so completely blots out the sin of God’s elect that God does not remember those sins at all. “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25) God does not remember the sins of His elect and punish them for their sin on earth because He has already punished their Substitute for their sin. God will not remember the sin of His elect in the day of judgment because the blood of Christ has already satisfied justice for them. The blood of Christ has made the sin of God’s elect not to exist anymore. Even God cannot remember what is not there so all that God has left for His people is mercy, love, grace, and acceptance.

Pastor Frank Tate

"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57:2).

Our Saviour performed all things for us. Our sin has been all put away. The righteousness with which we are clothed is complete. All that God's infinite justice can demand of us has been performed for us by our Substitute. Our warfare is accomplished. Our sin is pardoned. There is not one thing for us to do to complete the work of Christ. This word performeth means perfecteth. "I will cry unto God most high, unto God who perfecteth all things concerning me." David is confident that what God has said will come to pass. He is so sure of God's purpose, that while he is fleeing for his life, he praises and blesses God that He is perfecting that which concerns him, and leading him by a sure path to the throne. The Lord God of Heaven is working every detail for our good and for His glory. No wonder he could say, "I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me."

When you desire to know how close a person or a church is to the truth, find out where their emphasis is. Find out what it is they reverence the most. Find out what is most important to them. Paul said, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Pastor Milton Howard

Christ Achieved Salvation For Us

In our hometown newspaper a local religious leader wrote an article that said, “Spread the good news of salvation, that God sent His Son for the way to achieving salvation!” There is no good news in that statement because it is a lie. Sadly, this is what is being preached in most churches in our day as the truth of the gospel.

Salvation is not something we achieve or earn; it is the free and sovereign gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). The Lord Jesus Christ by Himself with Himself accomplished all of salvation for His elect (John 14:6; Heb. 1:3). He does not require us to achieve anything by our works or deeds. It is impossible for this sinful flesh to produce or achieve anything that would bring salvation to a poor vile sinner (Rom. 3:9-12).