Apr 14
26
Everlasting Love
Isaiah 54: 10: The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you.
[Believer] consider the love of God for you, as everlasting love. It never did, it never will, depart. Notwithstanding your fall in Adam, your depraved nature, your constant sins and departures, the love of God continues. He may veil for a little moment the light of His countenance, may chastise and afflict you for your revoltings and backslidings; still, having loved you once, He loves you to the end. Whatever else departs, His love never will. Wealth may leave you, health may fail you, friends may forsake you, and life itself expire; but God’s paternal love, and Christ’s fraternal sympathy, will never, never change.
The covenant of peace made with Christ, on your behalf, O my soul, sealed with His blood, even the “blood of the everlasting covenant,” which procured peace, speaks peace, and bequeaths peace, even “the peace of God which passes all understanding,” shall never be removed. The mountains of human strength, lofty and sun-gilded, the hills of creature good, clad with verdure, and smiling with fruit, shall be removed; the strongest, the loveliest, and the dearest, the first to die. But, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Amid the vicissitudes and changes of the present, the dying friends and revolving landscapes of life, cling, O my soul, to Him whose covenant never alters, whose kindness never changes; who, having loved you before all time, and loved you in all time, will love you to the end of all time—yes, when time shall be no longer. The Lord that has mercy upon you has said it.
Unconverted soul! the day will come when, if found out of Christ, you will cry to the mountains and to the rocks to cover you—but will cry in vain! Before His face of glory the heavens and the earth will flee away, and your soul will stand without a shelter or a hiding place. Escape for your life! There is one mountain, and one only, where you can find shelter from the wrath that is to come—it is Mount Calvary. Hidden there, the “Avenger of Blood” cannot reach you. No refuge but the cross—no fountain but the blood—no righteousness but Christ’s—no Savior but Jesus—will meet your case. “Him that comes unto Me I will in no way cast out.”
Octavius Winslow
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O the wonders couched in electing love!
(James Smith, “God’s Special Treasure” 1860)
“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth — the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure!” Deuteronomy 7:6
God highly prizes His people. Yes, it is impossible to say how highly He prizes them. Those are wondrous words, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own special treasure!” Psalm 135:4
Did the shepherd prize his flock? God calls His people, “His flock, His beautiful flock.”
Does the miser prize his wealth? God says of His people, “You shall be a special treasure unto Me above all people; for all the earth is mine.”
Does the prince prize his jewels? God says of His people, “They shall be Mine, in that day when I make up My jewels!”
Does the bridegroom prize his beloved and dearly purchased bride? It is written, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride — so shall your God rejoice over you!”
Does the reigning monarch prize his crown? God has said, “You shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
What wondrous love, such expressions as these represent! How precious must the Lord’s people be to Him! Truly they are His special treasure!
God CHOSE them to be special unto Himself. He chose them out from among others. He chose them in preference to others.
He chose them out from others, on purpose that they may be a special people unto Himself. And in so doing, He acted FREELY. It was not on account of anything He saw in them, or on account of anything He expected from them; but in the exercise of His most free and holy sovereignty — He chose them to participate in the glory of His Son!
In choosing them, He acted also DELIBERATELY. It was no hasty choice. His thoughts had been eternally filled with them. His heart had been eternally set upon them. Therefore He chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world!
In choosing them, He acted WISELY — as He really desired to have them. For each one of them is ready to confess that if God had not chosen them — that they would never have chosen Him! The nature regulates the choice; and as our nature is carnal and impure — we would never have chosen God, who is spiritual and holy.
His choice was just an early expression of His LOVE. The love which chose them — would do anything for them, and give anything to them! Therefore God spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up for them all; and in so doing, gave them the assurance that He will also freely give them all things in Christ.
O the wonders couched in electing love!
This act of choosing such creatures as we are, to be a special people unto Himself, displays . . .
such grace,
such condescension,
such infinite wisdom and love!
God’s election says, “The Lord loves you!” Loves us! Yes, and with a love that is eternal, immutable, sovereign, infinite, and free! All the love of God is lavished upon us as His special people in Christ. Oh, those wondrous words of Jesus, “You have loved them — even as You have loved Me!” John 17:23
But few among the worldly wise,
But few of nobler race,
Obtain the favor of Your eyes, Almighty King of grace!
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I have chosen you!
(George Mylne, “Fear Not!” 1854)
“Fear not, I have chosen you!” Isaiah 41:9, 10
Christian reader, God says to you, “I have chosen you!” This is a great mystery — but it is a comforting truth. God does not tell you WHY He chose you. He only tells you the simple fact. It is not for you to question it, or to shrink from it — but to receive it, and be thankful.
God was free to love you — or free to loathe you.
He was free to choose you — or free to reject you.
He says, “I have chosen you!” Believe what God says, and rejoice. “Before the mountains were brought forth, before He had formed the earth and the world,” God had chosen you! “From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.” From everlasting to everlasting He loved — He chose — He delighted in His people.
Fellow-sinner, if God says, “I have chosen you,” He says it . . .
to encourage you;
to strengthen you;
to sanctify you;
that you may rest upon the everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure,
that you may look away from self, and see that salvation is altogether of the Lord.
God chose you, “not according to your works; but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given you in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9.)
Fellow-sinner, you are . . .
loved in Christ;
chosen in Christ;
called in Christ;
saved in Christ!
Here is your foundation; here your hope; here your safety — you were “chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world!”
This is to humble you — as well as to exalt you.
This is to make you weep — as well as cause you to rejoice.
You are vile in yourself — but chosen to indescribable honor!
You are poor in yourself — but chosen to unspeakable riches!
You are naked in yourself — but chosen to eternal glory!
Child of God, never lose your hold of this precious truth. God has revealed it, that you might delight in it. Let this be the brightest jewel in your crown — this the sweetest cordial to your heart — that God says to you, “Fear not, I have chosen you!”
As you sit at the feet of Jesus;
as you lay your mouth in the dust, and cry, “Unclean, unclean!”
as you take all the shame to yourself, and give all the glory to God,
let this comfort delight your soul —
God has said, “Fear not, I have chosen you!”
“God chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world!” Ephesians 1:4 (amp.)
Of this I am sure. If salvation is not all of grace, I will not be saved. If any aspect of salvation is dependent upon me doing or not doing something, I will not be in heaven. If what Christ did alone is not enough to make me just before God, I will be in hell. If I am not preserved by irresistible and invincible grace, I will fall away. If God does not look to Christ for everything He requires of me, then I have no hope. But thank God, salvation really is all of grace. Salvation is not dependent upon my doing or not doing something. What Christ did alone makes me just before God. I am preserved by irresistible grace. Everything God requires of me He looks to His Son for. Therefore….saved I must be! – Todd Nibert
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The atonement does not change the nature and character of God, but rather, the atonement honours 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 Savior of His chosen people! Thank God! There is an atonement before the Lord! – Pastor Henry Mahan
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The rule of life for the believer is Christ, Himself, especially as He is revealed at the cross. Nothing so thoroughly reveals the sinfulness of sin as the cross. No doubt the law has a strong testimony of condemnation, but it is at the cross that the law’s condemnation of sin was most clearly displayed. The law engraved on tables of stone can teach the mind that this or that is wrong, but the law engraved in the wounded flesh of the Holy One strikes to the very core of a man’s being and reveals the utter sinfulness of even his righteousness.
Furthermore, the Gospel law of love finds no greater revelation than our Lord’s sacrificial death in behalf of His people, as it is written, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” With the mere word, “love”, on our lips, we may (and often do) excuse ourselves from loving action. But at the sight of Calvary, every excuse for self-service evaporates and we are both compelled and energized to truly love one another. It may seem trite to say it; but everything we need for this life and the next – that is, how we should live this life and how we should obtain the next – is found in Christ and Him crucified! – Pastor Joe Terrell