Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:1-3
HIM AND THEM
That precious saving faith which unites the sinner to Christ, also unites the sinner to all of those who belong to Christ. To be one with Him is to be one with them. Loving and serving Him has something to do with loving and serving them; likewise, loving and serving them has something to do with loving and serving Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Saving faith says that there is one Savior. Saving faith also says that there is only one household, one family, one body, one vine tree, etc. “I (Christ) am the vine, ye are the branches” (John 15:5).
Pastor Maurice Montgomery
Feed the Sheep
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. And I’m sure the memory of that incident added to Peter’s grief that the Lord should keep repeating this same question. At last, Peter appealed to the Lord’s complete knowledge of all things, of all men’s hearts and thoughts, and replied, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
This is the vital issue and question of questions for all professed Christians: “Do you love Christ?” It is not, “Do you love the Word, the doctrine, the church, the law, the people of God?” – though you certainly will love them if you love Christ. But do you love HIM? This is where life and hope and grace are born – love for Christ (I Cor. 16:22).
Again, the Lord said, “Feed my sheep.” It may be observed from the repetition of this phrase following Peter’s declaration of love for Christ that the only proper persons to feed the Lord’s sheep are those who truly love Him! There are pretended shepherds who feed themselves and in time of trouble leave the flock, or who feed goats and not sheep, or who feed them not with the true bread. But since the work is so laborious, the opposition from the religious world so great, the reproach of the world so constant, and conflict with powers of darkness so real, only true lovers of Christ faithfully perform the work of feeding the sheep. They are faithful to preach and teach the Word because they love Christ, they love the gospel of His grace, and they love His sheep. They also know that God will bless, honor, and prosper His preached Word (Is. 55:11). They are motivated by Christ’s love for them and their love for Him (II Cor. 5:9-15).
Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)
CRUCIFIXION OR CRUCIFICTION?
C .H. Spurgeon one day passed by a known chapel in England where the Gospel of Christ’s sovereign grace was denied, mocked, and never preached. This sign out front announced the title of the message for that week- "Crucifiction."
Although "crucifixion" and "crucifiction" sound the same when pronounced, there is a vast difference between the two. This religious world of ours has not shifted much in its opinion of what really happened at Calvary. While some may deny the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified at Calvary, nearly all in our day deny what He accomplished. The majority of the preaching that goes on today denies the effectual redemption and accomplished salvation through Jesus Christ's blood sacrifice and righteous obedience (Phil. 2:7-9; Hebrews 2:17). When you preach that His blood was shed for all humanity without exception, but it never really secured and accomplished salvation for anyone, you are preaching "crucifiction."
Thank God that the Scriptures do not teach "crucifiction." The Scriptures plainly teach us the glorious and successful work Jesus Christ accomplished for His people on the cross (Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 9:12). His crucifixion means: sin is atoned for (1 John 4:10), justice is satisfied (Galatians 3:13), the law of God is honored (Isaiah 42:21), righteousness is established (Rom. 5:19-21; Philippians 3:9), salvation is accomplished (John 17:4; 19:30), His people purchased (Acts 20:28). That is why the apostle Paul was determined to know, rejoice in and preach nothing for salvation, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). This is also why he refused to glory except in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:14).
Do you believe in "crucifixion" or "crucifiction?" The difference is eternal life in Christ Jesus or the just condemnation in Adam (Romans 5:19). If Christ did not effectually put away sin (Heb. 9:26) and accomplish salvation (John 17:4; 19:30), your hope of redemption is mere fiction and utterly false, not reality and truth (Gal. 2:20-21; 1 John 5:21).