***** “O love the LORD, all ye His saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:23-24) *****
Redeemed! Those for whom the Savior shed His blood and so redeemed them by price, are by-and-by redeemed by power. The Spirit of God finds them, like other men, fond of sin; like other men, blind to the beauties of the Savior, deaf to the commands of Christ; but if Christ has bought them with His blood, He never paid for what He will not have. The price was too precious to be paid for those who are not saved. If Christ has paid for a soul with His blood, He will have that soul. Neither will God’s honor rob Him of His purchase, nor will Christ be content to lose what He so dearly bought. –Copied
***** It Is Impossible It is impossible to preach: 1. That man is both totally and partially depraved. 2. That election is both conditional and unconditional. 3. That regenerating grace is both irresistible and resistible. 4. That redemption is both limited and unlimited. 5. That perseverance is both certain and uncertain. Nor can there be a modification of one by the other; it is impossible to blend the two. History records such efforts in the past; but despite the efforts, sovereign grace and free-willism will not mix, nor can they walk together in peace, nor can those holding either system force the other to take their view. –Rolph Barnard
***** Saints Lack for Nothing The Lord’s people are called saints because we have been set apart in the Father’s electing grace and Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Being saints, it is impossible that God would ever deny us any good thing. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). The heart of our Lord is filled with love for us. His eye of providence is always turned toward us. His hand of mercy is always supplying our needs. His ear is ever opened to hear our cries. Would you know the extent of the Father’s love for His children? He has given His own Son for us. Paul declared in Romans 8:32, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” John Gill said on this verse, “Christ is God’s free gift to His elect. He is given to be a covenant to them, an Head over them, a Savior of them, and as the Bread of life for them to live upon. He is freely given. God could never have been compelled to have given Him. Christ could never have been merited by them; nothing that they could give or do could have laid Him under obligation to have bestowed Him on them. Yea, such were the persons and such their characters for whom He delivered Him up, that He might have justly stirred up all His wrath against them. Yet, such was His grace, that He has given His own Son unto them; and not Him alone, but “all things” with Him: all temporal good things, needful and convenient; all spiritual blessings, a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, sanctifying grace, adoption, and eternal life. And, all was given “freely,” in a sovereign way, according to His own good will and pleasure, without any obligation or compulsion; not grudgingly, but cheerfully and bountifully, absolutely, and without any conditions; for He is not moved thereunto by anything in them, or performed by them.” No wonder we read, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us” (verses 33-34). –Pastor Jim Byrd
Older
Top
