Feb 23
17
“THERE WAS A DIVISION AMONG THE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HIM.”
John 7:43
It was true then, and it is true today: the Lord Jesus Christ is the cause of great division among men. (Read Matthew10:34-36 and Luke 12:51-53). Spurgeon said, “Between the poorest saint and the brightest moralist, there is a great gulf. We may not be able to perceive it in the outward character, but there is as deep a gulf as there is between the feeblest form of life and death, – a gulf which only omnipotent grace can cause any man to pass over. “The radical difference between the true believer and the unbeliever lies in their relation to Christ. That is the point of divergence.” It is foolish for us to refuse to recognize this division. The seed of the serpent hates the seed of the woman. The child of bondage and the free born son cannot live together in the same house. There no compatibility between believers and unbelievers.
To the unbeliever Christ is nothing; but to the believer Christ is everything. The unbeliever trusts himself, his works, his priest, or his church for acceptance before God; but the believer trusts Christ alone for his whole salvation. To the unbeliever Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; but to the believer Christ is exceedingly precious. The unbeliever is motivated by pride, seeks his own gain, lives by the principle of covetousness, and has his heart attached to this world. But the believer is not the same sort of man. He is motivated by the glory of Christ, seeks the will of Christ, lives in this world by the principles of love and faith, and has his heart fixed upon eternity.
The point is this – If you trust Christ, love Christ, serve Christ, and seek the glory of Christ, you will be wise not to seek the companionship of men and women who care nothing for Christ. Such companionship can only bring you pain and misery.
The carnal mind rages at the
Cross of Christ!
The following is from Spurgeon’s sermon,
“Jesus Affirmed to Be Alive” #2016. Acts 25:18-19
Do not imagine that it is possible, fairly
and squarely, to preach Jesus Christ and
His Gospel without raising opposition.
There is no hope of faithfully preaching
Christ without being called disrespectful
names, regarded as a fool and reckoned
among the vulgar and ignorant. Some kind
of ugly name will always be appended to
the preacher of the true Gospel.
Brethren, expect it and accept it!
Bid farewell to a quiet life, if you
resolve to be true to Jesus.
Nothing excites such animosity
as the preaching of Jesus!
The carnal mind rages
at the Cross of Christ!
That which would be to men the greatest
comfort and the greatest joy if they were
in their right minds, is their direst hate
because sin has perverted their judgments.
Of course nobody opposes
an indistinct, colourless, please
everybody gospel that is not
worth anything.
But speak clearly and distinctly the doctrine
of the great Sacrifice and you will bring upon
your head a shower of opposition.
The carnal mind rages at the Cross of Christ!
The cross has not become obsolete!
(Horatius Bonar,
“The Surety’s Cross”)
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is
the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
The whole world looked with contempt—indignant at the
audacity of a few humble Christians, thus affronting and
defying the “public opinion” of nations and ages; assailing
the religions of earth with the cross as their only sword;striking down their idols with this as their only hammer;
and with this, as their one lever, proposing to turn the
world upside down!
>From that day the cross became “a power” in the
earth;
a power which went forth, like the light—noiselessly yet
irresistibly—smiting down all religions alike, all shrines
alike, all altars alike—sparing no superstition nor philosophy.
This power remains—in its mystery, its silence, its influence,
it remains. The cross has not become obsolete! The
preaching of the cross has not ceased to be powerful and
effectual!
There are those who would persuade us that, in this modern
age—the cross is out of date and out of fashion, time-worn.
But this shakes us not. It only leads us to clasp the cross more
fervently, and to study it more profoundly, as embodying in
itself that gospel which is at once the wisdom and the power
of God.
Yet the cross is not without its mysteries.
It illuminates—yet it darkens.
It is life—yet it is death.
It is honour—yet it is shame.
It is wisdom—but also foolishness.
It is . . .
both pardon and condemnation;
both strength and weakness;
both joy and sorrow;
both love and hatred;
both medicine and poison;
both hope and despair.
It is Christ’s humiliation—yet it is His exaltation!
It is Satan’s victory—yet it is Satan’s defeat!
It is the gate of heaven—and the gate of hell!
The cross is the key to God’s character, His word,
His ways, His purposes. It is the summary of all
the Bible—the epitome of Revelation!
The happiest Christians
(John Newton’s Letters)
They are the happiest Christians, who have the
lowest thoughts of themselves, and in whose eyes
Jesus is most glorious and precious.”Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7
“THERE WAS A DIVISION AMONG THE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HIM.”
John 7:43
It was true then, and it is true today: the Lord Jesus Christ is the cause of great division among men. (Read Matthew10:34-36 and Luke 12:51-53). Spurgeon said, “Between the poorest saint and the brightest moralist, there is a great gulf. We may not be able to perceive it in the outward character, but there is as deep a gulf as there is between the feeblest form of life and death, – a gulf which only omnipotent grace can cause any man to pass over. “The radical difference between the true believer and the unbeliever lies in their relation to Christ. That is the point of divergence.” It is foolish for us to refuse to recognize this division. The seed of the serpent hates the seed of the woman. The child of bondage and the free born son cannot live together in the same house. There no compatibility between believers and unbelievers.
To the unbeliever Christ is nothing; but to the believer Christ is everything. The unbeliever trusts himself, his works, his priest, or his church for acceptance before God; but the believer trusts Christ alone for his whole salvation. To the unbeliever Christ is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; but to the believer Christ is exceedingly precious. The unbeliever is motivated by pride, seeks his own gain, lives by the principle of covetousness, and has his heart attached to this world. But the believer is not the same sort of man. He is motivated by the glory of Christ, seeks the will of Christ, lives in this world by the principles of love and faith, and has his heart fixed upon eternity.
The point is this – If you trust Christ, love Christ, serve Christ, and seek the glory of Christ, you will be wise not to seek the companionship of men and women who care nothing for Christ. Such companionship can only bring you pain and misery.
He is my Beloved, my Shepherd, my Savior and my Husband!
The life of faith is a happy life.
Though it is attended with conflicts—there is an assurance of victory.
If we sometimes get a wound—there is healing balm near at hand.
If we seem to fall—we are raised again.
And, if tribulations abound—then consolations shall
much more abound.
Is it not happiness to have . . .
an infallible Guide,
an invincible Guard,
an Almighty Friend?
It is bliss to be able to say of the Maker of heaven and earth, “He is
my Beloved, my Shepherd, my Savior and my Husband!“Oh, the peace which flows from believing . . .
that all the events in which we are concerned, are under His immediate
disposal;
that the very hairs of our head are all numbered;
that He delights in our prosperity;
that there is a need-be, if we are in heaviness;
and that all things shall surely work together for our good!
How happy to have such views of His sovereignty, wisdom, love, and
faithfulness—as will enable us to meet every difficult dispensation with
submission; and to look through the painful changes of the present life—to that
unchangeable inheritance to which the Lord is leading us; when all evil shall
cease, and where our joy shall be perfect and eternal!
A life of daily dependence on God!
(from Octavius Winslow’s “My Times in God’s Hand”)
Covet to live a life of daily dependence on God.
Oh! it is a sweet and holy life!
It will save you….
from many a desponding feeling;
from many a corroding care;
from many an anxious thought;
from many a sleepless night;
from many a tearful eye; and
from many an imprudent and sinful scheme.
Learn to be content with your present lot, with
God’s dealings with you, and His disposal of you.
You are just where His ‘providence’ has, in its
inscrutable but all wise and righteous decision,
has placed you.
The separated life!
(Charles Spurgeon)
“Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own
blood, suffered outside the gate.
Let us go forth therefore unto Him, outside the camp, bearing
His reproach.
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
Hebrews 13:12-14
Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer outside the gate.
The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and
the world’s religion, is not because he loves to be singular—but
because Jesus did so, and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was
“not of the world”—His life and His teachings were a constant protest
against conformity with the world. Never was there such overflowing affection
for men as you find in Him; but still He was “separate from sinners.”
In like manner, Christ’s people must “go forth unto Him.” They must
take their position “outside the camp,” as witness-bearers for the
truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must
have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth
next—and Christ and His truth beyond all the world!
Jesus would have His people “go forth to Him, outside the camp” for
their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree—while you
are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a
path of sorrow—but it is the highway of safety. And
though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every
day a battle—yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can
excel that of the soldier of Christ; Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and
gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his
daily strife—than others in their hours of rest!
The highway of holiness is the highway of sweet communion with
Jesus. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown, if we are enabled by divine
grace faithfully to follow Christ “outside the camp.”
The cross of separation—will be followed by the crown of
glory!
A moment’s shame—will be well recompensed by eternal honour when we are
“forever with the Lord!”
“Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh.”
Genesis 22:14
“Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh,” because he knew Jehovah-jireh for himself and knew by experience his provision. The ram caught in the thicket had been provided as a substitute for Isaac. Not only had the Lord seen, but according to the promise made to Abraham’s faith, the Lord had provided. Even before he knew how this trial would end, Abraham confidently believed God, trusting him to provide what was needed (Romans 4:20). Isaac said, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham answered with confident faith, “My son, God will provide!”
In due time, God did just that. As these words were spoken prophetically by Abraham concerning Isaac and his substitute, they were also a direct prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Substitute God has provided for sinners. Abraham was, by the Spirit of prophecy, saying to us, as God provided a substitute for Isaac, so he will provide a Substitute for all his covenant people in whom the Lord will be seen. That Substitute is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. He was also telling us that, as God provided for him in his time of extremity, so he will provide for all who trust him.
The God of Abraham lives today! He is the same today as he was in Abraham’s day. In the hour of Abraham’s great need, when there seemed to be no possible way of escape, the Lord appeared for him and was seen in the mount. So it shall be with all the children of Abraham. We shall be tried and tested, but in the hour of our utmost need our God will see us. Seeing our need, he will provide for us. And he will be seen in the provision he makes. The name of our God is Jehovah-jireh. He is worthy of absolute trust and confidence. The Lord Jehovah, is our Preserver and our Provider.
Let this truth be firmly fixed in your heart. — God’s provision for Abraham and Isaac typified the far greater provision of his grace, by which all believing sinners are delivered from sin and death. And God’s provision for us in Christ, by his death at Mt. Calvary, has given us the sure guarantee that all our necessities, both carnal and spiritual, shall be provided by him for both time and eternity. The richest person in the world is the one who is content. If a person is content, he can never be made richer or poorer. And those who have Christ ought to be perfectly content, because Christ is contentment! He who is Jehovah-jireh has promised, “I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:14). What blessed, heavenly logic Paul was inspired of God to use in Romans 8:32, when he asked, “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?” That is more than a promise; it is a conglomeration of promises. It is a mass of precious jewels, of rubies, and emeralds, and diamonds, with a nugget of gold for their setting. What can the Lord God deny us after giving us his own dear Son? If we need all things in heaven and earth, he will grant them to us. If there could be a limit anywhere, surely he would have kept back his own Son!
Don Fortner
If you are at home in the world
(J. C. Philpot, “Daily Portions”)
“For
we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all
our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there
is none abiding.” 1 Chron. 29:15
If you possess the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and,
Jacob, you, like them, confess that you are a
stranger; and your confession springs out of a
believing heart and a sincere experience.
You feel yourself a stranger in this ungodly world.
It is not your element.
It is not your home.
You are in it during God’s appointed time, but
you wander up and down this world . . .
a stranger to its company,
a stranger to its maxims,
a stranger to its fashions,
a stranger to its principles,
a stranger to its motives,
a stranger to its lusts,
a stranger to its inclinations, and all in which
this world moves as in its native element.
Grace has separated you by God’s sovereign power,
that though you are in the world, you are not of it.
I can tell you plainly–if you are at home in the
world; if the things of time and sense are your
element; if you feel one with . . .
the company of the world,
the maxims of the world,
the fashions of the world, and
the principles of the world
–grace has not reached your heart, the faith
of God’s elect does not dwell in your bosom.
The first effect of grace is to separate.
It was so in the case of Abraham. He was called
by grace to leave the land of his fathers, and go
out into a land that God would show him. And so
God’s own word to His people is now, “Come out
from among them, and be separate, says the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall
be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Separation, separation, separation from the world
is the grand distinguishing mark of vital godliness.
There may be indeed separation of body where there
is no separation of heart. But what I mean is . . .
separation of heart,
separation of principle,
separation of affection,
separation of spirit.
And if grace has touched your heart, and you are
a partaker of the faith of God’s elect, you are a
stranger in the world, and will make it manifest
by your life and conduct that you are such.