BLOOD BEFORE THE LORD

Note in scripture how many times the blood is said to be "before the Lord." Whether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin "before the Lord." When the Passover lamb was slain in Egypt, where was the blood placed? It was on the OUTSIDE of the door "before the Lord." He said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you."

The suffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was "BEFORE the Lord," UNTO the Lord, to de­clare the Lord's righteousness, to satisfy the Lord's justice, to fulfill the Lord's purpose, to glorify the Lord's character, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier!

The atonement does not change the NATURE and char­acter of God, but rather the atonement HONORS and MAGNIFIES the character of God. The death of Christ is NOT the cause of God's love, but the result of it. God is not merciful because Christ died; Christ died because God is merciful. In order that every attri­bute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Saviour of the chosen people! Thank God we have an atonement, "before the Lord."

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1993)

When the Lord saved me as a young man, I found the promises of God in Christ to be very comforting and encouraging. They gave me great hope. Now I find them to be an absolute necessity. They are my meat and my drink. They are my breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

John 6:3, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

With many such promises, I can lay me down to sleep, knowing that in Christ all is well. Pastor John Chapman

THE SHORT HISTORY OF HUMANITY

“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden;

And there He put the man whom He had formed” Gen.2:8

“Joseph died…and he was put in a coffin in Egypt” Gen.50:26

The book of Genesis gives us the glorious beginning and the sad ending of humanity. God made him holy and happy, and put him in a beautiful garden. Man made himself a sinner, and sin put him in a coffin.

God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen.2:7), sin took the breath away, and put man back into the ground from whence he came – the wages of sin is death.

Man had paradise, the very presence of God. Of all the earth it was the choice place for man: a place near to God’s heart; a place of God’s own planting ‘A garden in Eden.’ Sin entered and sent man into a foreign country – a strange country, away from God.

God made us good, sin made us sinners. We’re not what we once were – friends of God, alive and lively; now strangers and foreigners: as dead spiritually as Joseph was physically.

But thank God, He has not left us to ourselves to decay without hope. God’s own dear Son left the true paradise, heaven itself, and came to this foreign world and paid the dreadful price for sin; laid in a tomb, but now is risen andascendedto paradise again. God puts us in Him, the source of eternal life and everlasting righteousness, paradise restored! Pastor Bruce Crabtree

“THERE IS NONE LIKE THAT; GIVE IT ME"

These are the words of David that are recorded in I Samuel 21:9. When David was on the run from King Saul, he came to the priest Ahimelech to find shelter, food and a weapon. David found food and shelter, yet the priest had no sword in the temple, except the sword that David used to take off Goliath's head. David knowing the soundness of that weapon said, "There is none like that; give it to me." I think we can make good use of that saying in reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1). In regards to His WORD, "there is none like that; give it me." Consider who the Author is; "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (1 Tim. 3:16). All other books are but man made at best. Consider its glorious subject, "To Him give all the prophets witness" (Acts 10:43). The written word powerfully gives testimony to the living Word, His person and work. Consider the effects of His Word; "Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth" (James 1:18). It is soul quickening (Eph. 2:1). It is heart warming (Luke 24:32). It is a guide for our life (Psa. 119:104). Therefore I say, "there is none like that; give it to me. " Give it to me that I may grow in grace (l Peter 2:2). Give it to me that I may see Jesus Christ as altogether lovely (S. Sol. 5:16).

2). In regards to His SALVATION, "there is none like that; give it to me.” Our salvation was totally purposed, purchased and produced by Jesus Christ Himself (Acts 20:28). He appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 1:3, 9:26). There is no other atonement but the one He made (Heb. 10:17). There is no other righteousness like the one He provides for His elect (Rom. 4:6). Therefore I say, "there is none like that; give it to me." Give it to me that I may be justified (Rom. 3:24). Give it to me that I may be glorified (Rom. 8:30).