December 8, 2013

Some Things Are Sure

In a world where nothing is sure
But our appointment with death,
By the eternal Son of God,
The same yesterday for aye,
All things are ordered and are sure
In the Covenant He made.
Jesus came to save His chosen.
The debt of sin He did pay.

For years I thought I knew the Lord,
Yet, trusted some other god.
His Free Grace was given to me
When touched by the hand of God.
At that moment I lost all things,
A poor beggar, blind, and dead,
Fell before Him stripped of my pride.
"I have redeemed you." He said.

I know my Redeemer liveth.
In my flesh shall I see God.
At the latter day He shall stand,
Whom I shall see for myself.
He Who bore my sin at Calv'ry,
He Who chose me by His grace,
Freely, willingly, and able,
Paid the ransom in my place.

By Gary Spreacker, Tune: "What a friend" pg.354

In Christ

Often someone asks what "position" do you hold on a particular doctrine, such as particular redemption, or the depravity of man. But the word of God never tells us to come to a position, but to a person to Christ Jesus the Lord. He himself said; "Come unto me" again; "all that the Father gives me shall come unto me, no man cometh unto the Father but by me".

The scriptures speak of believers being "In Christ" in several places. This is the place I want to be found - In Christ. This is the only place where a sinner can have a secure position from sin, death, hell, and the judgment and wrath of God. When a sinner comes to Christ, trusts Christ and learns that he was chosen In Christ before the foundation of the world, then he has the most blessed position a poor sinner can have.

Justified! Accepted! Righteous! Where? Before God, who is holy and inhabits eternity. Before Him who knows our thoughts afar off. Before Him who knows the heart. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of god's elect? It is God that justifieth." How? "It is Christ that died, yea rather is risen again, who sitteth at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us". Rom 8:33-34. - Pastor

~~~ O ~~~

"Am I to bring no works, no faith (not even faith)? NO - your faith brings you. Faith leaves all works behind. It relies on God's gracious promises. It pleads God's rich mercy in Christ, to poor perishing sinners. - William Mason

~~~ O ~~~

Herein I Stand

MY RESUME - "I am a sinner saved by the grace of God, trusting Only in the Lord Jesus Christ."

MY STANDING - "In Christ."

MY OBJECTIVE - "That I may know Him."

MY HOPE - "To be like Him."
- Scott Richardson

Three Things

Elisha Cole said, "The great God, blessed forever, hath an absolute power and right of dominion over his creatures, to dispose and determine them as seemeth him good." In proving that God has such power, and freedom to exercise that power, brother Cole merely quotes from one of several places in Isaiah where it is written: "I Am God, and there is none beside me. I am
the LORD, and there is none else." (Isa. 45:6, etc.). He made some
statements in light of this:

(1) "There can be but one infinite: for such a being fills heaven and earth (Jer. 23:24); and so no place or room for another.

(2) There can be but one omnipotent; for he that is such, hath all others under his feet: besides, where one can do all, more would be unnecessary.

(3) There can be but one first cause, from which all beings derive their original; and that is the blessed one "Of whom, and by whom, are all things," (l Cor. 8:6). And if he be the author of all, he needs must have a sovereign right and power to determine all; both as to their being, order, efficacy, and end."

This is the God who has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ, This is the God we fear and trust and hope in. We bow down before him and to him and worship with fear and rejoice in trembling. We willingly and most gladly confess that this God has determined our being and destiny and salvation. Neither devil, the angels nor we have such power or right; only this God who is our God. And there truly is none else.