Nov 24
3
When I look at myself I am ashamed. When I look at God’s holy law I am condemned. When I look at God’s justice I despair. When I look into the gospel I grow bold: for I see pardon obtained, righteousness wrought out, salvation finished, and justice satisfied: then I am filled with hope. For God is just, and the justifier of him, even the ungodly, who believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:26.
William Mason
“He That Hath Seen Me Hath Seen The Father.”
John 14:9
There is one word in the Bible which in itself forms an entire library, one word which is the sum and substance of the entire Bible, one word which comprises all truth. That word is “Christ.” He is he uncreated, living, eternal Word, whom to know is life eternal. He is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks.
When chosen, redeemed sinners are brought out of darkness into light by the irresistible, regenerating grace and power of God the Holy Spirit, when Christ is revealed in the chosen vessels of mercy, when they become savingly acquainted with this Divine Word, they are “made wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (Tit. 3:15).
As we are led by the Spirit in the life of faith, enabled by his grace to live upon, walk with, and rejoice in the glorious Person and finished accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are brought into what the Apostle Paul describes as – “All the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3).
Our Lord’s own statements with regard to this “mystery of God,” the mystery of the perfect unity and oneness of the Persons in the eternal Godhead are plain and clear (John 10:30; 14:7-9).
We worship one God in the trinity of his sacred Persons. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). Yet, we recognise, and the Scriptures undeniably reveal, the fact that the revelation of the holy Trinity is found in Christ alone. Christ, and Christ alone, is the visible Jehovah. The invisible God is seen and known only in him who is “the image of the invisible God”
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
It is never written in Scripture that if a person believes in God, or if he believes in the Holy Spirit, he is saved. It is written throughout the Word of God, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). The fact is – No one believes God and no one has the Spirit of God, except those sinners who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, as he is revealed in the Scriptures, as the Savior of his people. As the all glorious Christ is alone the embodiment and revelation of God, he is also the only Savior of sinners. While we adore our heavenly Father and worship him as our God, and God the Holy Spirit too, we realize that the only way for us to do so is by trusting Christ alone as our Savior.
Don Fortner
Emmanuel
“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23)
Who would ever have imagined that the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14 had reference to the Lord Jesus Christ? We are so spiritually dull in this body of flesh that before we are capable of understanding prophecy, we must see it fulfilled. When we know even as we are known, we will see how that all the Scriptures speak of him whose name is Emmanuel (Luke 24:27, 44).
This name, “Emmanuel”, is only found three times in the Word of God (Isaiah 7:14; 8:8; and Matthew 1:23). But it is a name full of instruction and comfort to believing hearts. Emmanuel is God with us. Emmanuel declares the union of two natures in the Person of our Saviour. He is both God and man in one glorious Person, as perfectly God as though he were not man, and as completely man as though he were not God. We must never lose sight of this great, foundation truth of the gospel. Jesus Christ is a man, just like us, only without sin. Yet, he “is over all, God blessed forever” (Romans 9:5), “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). He must be both God and man, or he could not be our Saviour.
Someone said, “God could not suffer, and man could not satisfy; but the God-man both suffered and satisfied.” Our Saviour is a man. Therefore he is sympathetic with us. But he is not at all limited by his humanity. “In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Therefore he is able to save all who trust him.
Emmanuel is our Saviour’s name! Through a virgin’s womb He came,
Fully God and fully man, without sin, God’s holy Lamb!
Christ came here to save His own; and His work He’s fully done! –
See Him yonder on the throne, Christ, Emmanuel, God the Son!
Don Fortner
A stable, a hovel, a hedge, any unadorned corner
J.C.Philpot
Thus sayeth the Lord God; “Although I have cast them far off amongst the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yetI will be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.” Ezekiel 11:16
Every place in which the Lord manifests Himself, is a sanctuary to a child of God.
Jesus is now our sanctuary, for He is “the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.” We see the power and glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.
Every place is a sanctuary, where God manifests Himself in power and glory to the soul. Moses, doubtless, had often passed by the bush which grew in Horeb; it was but a common thorn bush, in no way distinguished from the other bushes of the thicket. But on one solemn occasion it was all “in a flame of fire,” for “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire” out of the midst; and though it burned with fire, it was not consumed. God being in the bush, the ground round about was holy, and Moses was bidden to take off his shoes from his feet. Was not this a sanctuary to Moses? It was, for a holy God was there! Thus wherever God manifests Himself, that becomes a sanctuary to a believing soul.
We don’t need places made holy by the ceremonies of man; but places made holy by the presence of God!
Then a stable, a hovel, a hedge, any unadorned corner may be, and is a sanctuary, when God fills your heart with His sacred presence, and causes every holy feeling and gracious affection to spring up in your soul.
Supernatural light
Joseph Philpot
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6
Until, then, this supernatural light of God
enters into the soul, a man has no saving
knowledge of Jehovah. He may . . .
say his prayers,
read his Bible,
attend preaching,
observe ordinances,
bestow all his goods to feed the poor,
or give his body to be burned;
but he is as ignorant of God as
the cattle that graze in the fields!
He may call himself a Christian, and be
thought such by others, talk much about
Jesus Christ, hold a sound creed, maintain
a consistent profession, pray at a prayer
meeting with fluency and apparent feeling,
stand up in a pulpit and contend earnestly
for the doctrines of grace, excel hundreds
of God’s children in zeal, knowledge and
conversation.
And yet, if this ray of supernatural light has
never shone into his soul, he is only twofold
more the child of hell than those who make
no profession!
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” –1 Corinthians 1:9
J.C.Philpot
When God calls his people by his grace, it is to make them partakers of the highest bliss and the greatest glory that he could confer upon the sons of men. And this not only in eternity, but in time; not only beyond, but this side of the grave. He appeals, therefore, to them by his prophet. “Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness?” (Jer. 2:31.) When the Lord calls his people out of earthly pleasures, is it for no other purpose than to lead them into paths of affliction and sorrow? Does he make them leave the flesh-pots of Egypt to starve them in a waste howling wilderness? This was the complaint of the ancient murmurers, that Moses had brought them up out of Egypt to kill them with thirst (Exod. 17:3). Does he take them from earthly delights to abandon them to misery and despair? O no! He calls them even in this time state to the greatest privilege and highest favour that his everlasting love could confer upon them, which is no less than “the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,” that they may have union and communion with the Son of God by grace here, and be partakers of his glory hereafter. God’s dear Son is, and always has been, the object of his eternal delight. To glorify him has been from all eternity his fixed, his settled purpose; and in pursuance of this settled purpose, he gave him a people whom he formed for himself, that they might show forth his praise. Thus, therefore, the Redeemer addressed his heavenly Father–“And all mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them.”
Easy?
Revelation 21:7, “He that
overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall
be my son.”
To be a true Christian is not so easy a thing as some suppose.
It is not merely . . .
true beliefs, an evangelical creed, attending a scriptural church, a
comfortable sermon once or twice a week. It is not this, which constitutes
genuine Christianity.
You who think that religion is so very easy a thing–be
apprehensive lest, when too late, you find that you have experienced nothing of
saving religion.
Easy? For a depraved being, to trample upon his
lusts?
For a proud being, to lie prostrate with humility and
self-reproach?
For those who are slow of heart, to believe?
For the educated man, to receive the Gospel as a little child?
Easy? To crucify the flesh?
To deny ungodliness?
To cut off a right hand, and to pluck out a right eye?
Easy? To be in the world, and
yet not of the world?
To come out from it, not by the seclusion of the cloister, but by holiness of
life?
To be diligent in its duties, yet not absorbed by them?
To appreciate its innocent delights, and yet not ensnared by
them?
To behold its attractions, and yet rise superior to them?To live surrounded by objects which appeal to the sight, and yet to endure
as seeing what is invisible?
Easy? To pray and see no answer to prayer–and still pray on?
To fight this battle, and find new foes ever rising up–and still to fight on?
To be harassed with doubts and fears–and yet walk on in darkness, staying
ourselves upon God?
Easy? To be preparing for a world we have never visited, in opposition
to so much that is captivating in a world where we have always dwelt . . .
whose beauties we have seen,
whose music we have heard, and
whose pleasures we have
experienced?
Easy? To resist that subtle foe who
has cast down so many of the wise and the mighty?
Easy? When Jesus says it is a “narrow gate,” and that if we
would enter, we must strive, bidding us to
“take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow Him?”
Ah! It is no soft flowery meadow, along which we may languidly
stroll–but a rough, craggy cliff that we must climb.
It is no smooth, placid stream, along which we may dreamily
float–but a tempestuous ocean that we must stem!
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will
seek to enter in and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24).
“…..for Without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).
“Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:29).
One day soon, whether willingly or unwillingly, whether through physical death or the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ, we are all going to leave this world. At that time every mere earthly relationship and association will be severed and lost to us forever. Will this be the end of all your treasures and pleasures, joys and dreams? Dear soul, it will be unless you are NOW dying to this world and this world is NOW dying to you, and you are living on Christ and Him crucified (Galatians 6:14).
To true believers, leaving this present, evil world is not looked upon as loss, but as a great, a precious, and an eternal gain (Philippians 1:21). It is that “deliverance” which they have longed for (Romans 7:24). It will be the first time since they have known the LORD Jesus Christ, that One who washed them from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9), that they will be able to do that which they “would” (Romans 7:15-25; Galatians 5:17), that which they desire. They shall see Him, and know Him, and love Him, and worship Him perfectly; that is, without sin. Now they shall dwell in that “better country,” that “heavenly country” (Hebrews 11:8-16). Now their faith is swallowed up in glorious sight. Now they see Him as He is, and are made like Him (1st John 3:1-2). Now they are “SATISFIED” (Psalm 17:15). ALL OF GOD! ALL OF GRACE! ALL IN AND BY AND THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
Maurice Montgomery