"See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever." (Deuteronomy 32:39-40
A PRAYER FOR MERCY TUNE "COME THOU FOUNT" 8.7.8.7. double WORDS BY JIM BYRD
1. God of everlasting glory, Hear this poor and needy soul; Grant to me Thy great salvation, Come and make this sinner whole. Manifest Thy loving kindness, For Thy mercy I apply; Meet my need and heal my spirit, Or this sinful soul will die.
2. In Thy holy Word ‘tis written, That for sinners Jesus died; And His sacrifice on Calv’ry, All Thy justice satisfied. When the Savior paid their ransom, He redeemed Thy family; Look upon the righteous Savior, And show mercy Lord to me.
3. By the grace of Thine own Spirit, To the Savior I will flee; Jesus blood and His obedience, Shall be all this sinner’s plea. Only Christ alone can save me, I shall live at His command. In His garments of salvation, Pure before Thy throne I stand.
CONGREGATIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY: MORNING: ISAIAH 62:1-12 EVENING: LUKE 10:25-42
THE EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT The greatness of Christ's redemption may be measured by the extent of the design of it. He gave His life a "ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). We are often told that we limit the atonement of Christ because we say that Christ has not made a satisfaction for all men, or all men would be saved. Now, our reply to this is, that, on the other hand, our opponents limit it; we do not. The Arminians say, "Christ died for all men." Ask them what they mean by it. "Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of all men?" They say. "No, certainly not." Ask them, "Did Christ die so as to secure the salvation of any man in particular?" They answer "No." They are obliged to admit this, if they are consistent. They say "No; Christ has died that any man may be saved if..." and there follows certain conditions of salvation. We ask, then, "Christ did not die so as beyond a doubt to secure the salvation of anybody, did He?" You must say "No." You are obliged to say "No", for you believe that even after a man has been pardoned, he may perish. Now, who is it that limits the death of Christ? Why, you! You say that Christ did not die so as to infallibly secure the salvation of anybody. We beg your pardon when you say we limit Christ’s death; we say, "No, my dear sir, it is you that do it." We say Christ so died that He infallibly secured the salvation of a multitude that no man can number, who through Christ’s death not only may be saved, but are saved, must be saved, and cannot by any possibility run the hazard of being anything but saved. You are welcome to your atonement; you may keep it. We will never renounce ours for the sake of it. –C. H. Spurgeon (edited)
I BELIEVE... I believe God is sovereign in creation, providence and salvation. "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places" (Ps. 135:6). I believe God, before the world began, chose a people in Christ unto salvation, a choice of unconditional grace. "God hath from the beginning chosen you unto salvation" (2 Th. 2:13). I believe that the eternal Son of God "was manifest in the flesh" (1 Ti. 3:16) to "save His people" (Matt. 1:21). I believe that by His substitutionary death, Christ satisfied every demand of justice for His chosen ones thereby obtaining "eternal redemption" (Heb. 9:12). I believe that even as the sins of God’s elect were imputed to Christ so His justifying righteousness has been imputed to His people (2 Co. 5:21). I believe Christ died so that God might be "a just God and a Savior" (Isaiah 45:21). I believe Christ "was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:24) and is exalted, Lord over all (Acts 2:36). I believe God’s elect, like all mankind, are born spiritually dead in sin and the Holy Spirit, using the gospel, gives them life (James 1:18) thereby making them willing to be saved (Psalm 110:3) by "grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). I believe those who are effectually called to Christ, repent of their dead works, believe on Him and are kept eternally safe. "They shall never perish" (John 10:28). I believe God’s purpose of redemption will be consummated when Christ returns, gathers His people to Himself and presents each one, body and soul, "faultless, before the presence of His glory" (Jude 1:24). I believe salvation, in its entirety, is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9). I believe all things fulfill the purpose of God and give Him glory. "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). –Pastor Jim Byrd
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