Psalm 145:8-12

“Love not the world, nor the things that are in the world” (1 John 3:15).

The believer loves relatives and friends in the world, he loves and pities all people of the world, he loves the blessings of fellowship and the good things that God gives to us and enables us to enjoy in the world; but, he does not love the world nor the things of the world ABOVE GOD AND CHRIST.

He doesn’t take satisfaction nor contentment in them, nor make idols of them, nor prefer them to heavenly and spiritual things! His citizenship and interests are in the kingdom of God. His true family is the family of God, and he knows that the fashion of this world passes away (1 Cor. 7:31). He prefers nothing and no one in this world to Christ.

If a man’s affections and interests are set upon the world, the things of the world, and the companionship of worldly people, it is clearly evident that he does not have the love of God in him. No man can serve two masters (2 Tim. 2:19; Lk. 14:25-33).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)

“Whosover is Born Of God, doth not commit sin” (1 John 3:9).

What is here said of the seed of CHRIST, and their inability to commit sin, is wholly in reference to their spiritual nature. For thus the words express it. “Whosoever is born of GOD, doth not commit sin.” The new-birth, or the being born of GOD, which is the same thing, is wholly spiritual. For the body of flesh remains the same in the Adam-nature of a fallen state. And as it is corrupt and sinful, so its daily tendencies are to corruption. At the last day it will arise a glorified body; and though sown in dishonor at death, it will be raised in glory at the resurrection. Whereas the spiritual part of every child of GOD, when new born in GOD from the Adam-nature, induced by the fall, being dead in trespasses and sins, is quickened to a new and spiritual life. And, as this scripture blessedly saith, “It cannot sin, because it is born of GOD, and his seed remaineth in him” (1John 3:9). “It is born not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, which liveth and abideth forever (1 Peter 1:23).

Robert Hawker (1753-1827)

FOUR ESSENTIALS TO PROPER WORSHIP

In a careful study through the book of Leviticus you will learn how to approach and worship our holy God. There are four essentials to proper worship: the tabernacle, the altar, the blood sacrifice and the priest. In the Lord Jesus Christ, all that was pictured is perfectly fulfilled in Him (Matt.5:17). Christ is the Tabernacle (John 1:14). Christ is the Altar (Heb. 13:10). Christ is the blood Sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-12). Christ is the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:22-26; 8:1). Only through the Lord Jesus Christ can guilty sinners approach a thrice holy God and be accepted in the Beloved (John 14:6; Eph. 1:3-6). All of this to the praise of the glory of His grace!

After His Own Likeness

“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth” (Genesis 5:3).

All that Adam could produce was his own likeness, in other words, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh” (John 3:6). Flesh can produce nothing but flesh. As David wrote in Psalm 51 “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Every son and daughter of Adam are born in sin, and shapen in iniquity.

The same holds true of those born of the Spirit of God, John 3:6 “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” This is more than being spiritual, it is being like the Spirit it is born of. This is the new man; the new nature that is born of the Spirit which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24). That which is born of the flesh is not made better by the Spirit; it is a separate birth altogether; all who are born of the Spirit bear the likeness of the Spirit of God. Like begets like!

Pastor John Chapman

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15).