THE SAVIOR MUST BE GOD

Men who are dead in sin like to argue that the Lord Jesus is not God but only a mere man who was only a prophet of God, but not God manifest in the flesh. They insist on this because fallen man has always rebelled against bowing to Christ and worshipping Him.

Men who have been given spiritual life love the truth that the Lord Jesus IS God. Men who know they are sinners love the truth that the Lord Jesus IS God because the only way a sinner can be saved is by the Savior who is God. It takes the power of God to save a sinner. It takes the righteousness of God to make a sinner righteous. It takes the love of God to save an unlovable sinner. It takes the grace of God to save a guilty sinner. It takes the blood of the God-Man to cleanse a vile sinner from all our sin. Thank God the Lord Jesus Christ is God, come to save His people from their sin.

Present-day evangelism takes for granted God’s mercy and grace, rather than marveling at them in adoration and worship. Hear Paul say, “I obtained mercy.” Hear Peter say, “to all who have obtained like precious faith.” How I long to hear this note in the churches today!

Rolfe Barnard

I saw where someone wrote recently, “there’s a lot more in the word of God, than Christ.” That is a sad and horrible statement. If I tell you that I grew up in Deer Park TX, my first car was a Plymouth Duster and I worked at Houston Independent School District, this is not a treatise on cities, cars or companies. It is all about me. The scriptures have some things to say about Heaven, Hell, Bethlehem and even heresy, but we need to understand that the word of God concerns His Son Jesus Christ, all Him, only Him, always Him. Every other person, place, thing and subject are included, only as they relate to, reveal and glorify Him.

When it comes right down to it, He is all there is. Anyone who does not, by God’s grace, know this, has no business saying or writing anything about God or His word. If God will ever reveal anything to you, it will begin right there; Christ is all. If God is ever going to use you for His glory, in His ministry, in any capacity, He will cause you to determine to know nothing, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Pastor Chris Cunningham

HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps133:1)

This is one of many evidences and descriptions of the Lord’s family (John 13:34-35). Believers do dwell together in love, being made one with Christ (John 17:21-22), serving each other out of a motive of love (2Cor.5:14), bearing one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:1-2), forgiving each other with a tender heart as the Lord has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13), praying for one another (1Thes. 5:25), encouraging each other in the gospel of Christ, unto love and good works (Heb. 10:24), endeavoring to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).

“Behold, how good,” how excellent, how pleasant and satisfying is this blessed fellowship around the gospel of Christ. It is according to the will of God and the command of Christ. It is also pleasing to our God and satisfying to his people. Should we not at all cost avoid argument, debate and divisions to satisfy our own selfish way (Proverbs 6:16-19; 14:12)? And truly, whole heartily and pursue peace (Rom. 12: 18; Heb. 13: 1), seeking the greater good and glory of God in the matter of harmony among believers, to the furtherance of the gospel of Christ and the good of the family of God (Col 3:23; 1Cor. 10:31).