Monthly Archives: May 2023
“The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.” (Isaiah 38:20) These are the words of Hezekiah as he praises God for the deliverance of his soul and body. He sounds a blessed word of testimony for every broken sinner to hear. He exclaims, “The LORD was ready to save me!” It is one… Read More
For any who are under the false illusion that they are somehow growing in perfection and holiness, consider carefully the following excerpt taken from a letter by John Newton (preacher and author of the hymn, “Amazing Grace”) to a friend, written on Nov. 23, 1774. I have no idea of any permanent state in this life, that shall make my experience cease to be a state of warfare and humiliation. At my first… Read More
If you are at a loss about the extent of Christ’s Death, and know not what part to take in the controversy about general and particular Redemption, look to your way-marks, the scriptures, and take your direction from thence; and there you will observe, that those whom Christ saves from their sins are His own people, for whose transgressions He was stricken; that He gave His life a ransom for many, for… Read More
“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.” (1st Thessalonians 3:3) The abounding grace of God does not preclude trials and afflictions, but those who are the recipients of Divine grace have been “appointed thereunto.” Then let us not be dismayed or cast down by them, but seek grace to get them sanctified to us. Sufferings are necessary to the saints on various accounts…. Read More
When I was a young boy in elementary school, I often came home to face the frown of my mother because I had been “trading” at school. I had been swapping marbles or toys or trinkets with the other boys at school. She often made me take them back and undo the swap. She was not so much afraid that I would not “get” a fair trade as that I would not… Read More
“For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:28) Faith, I believe, has in it always a measure of assurance. For what is assurance? It is merely the larger growth and fuller development of faith. The nature of assurance is much misunderstood. It is often considered something distinct from faith. This is not the case. It is merely… Read More
“And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.” (2nd Samuel 8:13) What is said here of David must be said of David’s Lord, Jesus Christ. Today we would say, “David made a name for himself.” That is, because of his valor and his victorious conquests over his enemies, he gained fame and became known for his successes. The same is… Read More
The recent home-going of a dear friend and brother, Scott Richardson, has brought to my mind many pleasant remembrances of him. Once when I was going through a great trial, he called me on the phone and said, “I just wanted to let you know I’m for you.” “I’m for you.” Those words were a great encouragement to me then and continue to be so to this day. What a great blessing it is to… Read More
I cannot help but relate to you another experience I had with Brother Scott Richardson which the LORD used to teach me something. Once while he was preaching for us in a meeting, he was staying with my brother at his house which is not far from my house. Brother Scott was taking me home in his car and when we got to the drive I told him to just let me out… Read More
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1st Corinthians 4:2) Each child of God has been given a gift or gifts by which he may serve the Master and be of use to the assembly. These gifts are called, “the manifold grace of God,” meaning that these gifts appear in many forms. We are stewards of these gifts; and, as stewards of these gifts, we are required… Read More
“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24) I often hear people saying that someone “has gone into the ministry” or that they have some kind of specific ministry. A minister is simply a servant…. Read More
“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”(2nd Peter 2:7-9) Almost daily in this life the LORD’s people are drawn into… Read More
To form a more just idea of this scrutiny of the human heart, let us ask ourselves how we could bear to be obliged to declare aloud in full company every thought which passes through our minds, every wish and desire of which we are conscious, without the least reserve. I am persuaded there are few people so lost to shame but if they were brought to this trial, they would rather… Read More
“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” (Lamentations 1:12) Christ the Messiah, using the prophet Jeremiah, calls upon men to look at Him as He suffers on the cross. He cries “see if there be any sorrow like unto… Read More
“But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.” (Job 23:13) Some think they do God a favor or make Him more palatable to unregenerate men by setting forth the redeeming work of Christ as both universal and particular. They say things like, “His death was sufficient for all but efficient for the elect.” The design of the redemptive work of… Read More
Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?” (Ruth 2:10) My soul! dost thou not find continual causes for sending forth the same inquiry as this poor Moabitess did, when thou art receiving some renewed instance of Jesus’s favour? Her heart was overwhelmed with the kindness of Boaz, in permitting her to glean only in his fields, and to eat… Read More
“They kept shouting—Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21) The Word of Truth declares that “the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). Men do not believe it—in fact most of them pretend the very opposite. Nevertheless, at Calvary—they gave proof of their hatred of God. Not only was Christ unwelcome here—but men hated Him—and that “without a cause” (John 15:25). He gave them every reason to admire and adore Him—but they… Read More
Long before the law was given by Moses, our whole race fell when Adam fell in the garden of Eden. Adam, a representative man, sinned against God and in him “all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) This is why “death reigned from Adam to Moses.” But the penalty for sin against God is far more than physical death. Sin cannot be reversed, it must be punished. The penalty God requires for sin is death,… Read More
The religion of nature is the religion of pride. Pride is of the devil. Pride works by a lie, and keeps the soul in unbelief of the truth. Hence, we naturally think some change in us, some good done by us, causes God to be our Father, and we consider ourselves as his very good children. This notion obtains in the mind of many, and is the cause of their rejecting the… Read More
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1st Timothy 5:8) The apostle Paul minces no words when he describes all who abandon and do not provide for their own households. What provisions are necessary for one’s family? There is of course the need for food, clothing and shelter; but there is much… Read More
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2nd Timothy 4:8) There is an old religious song (like most, full of the man centered, works salvation men love) that says, “If you’re fighting, striving for the right, You shall wear a robe and… Read More
Many claim to be preachers of Christ, saying, “We preach Jesus.” But the preaching of Christ is not the mere repeating of His name. It is not just saying, “Believe on Jesus…” It is not saying the name “Jesus” and leaving men to put their own views to it as to who He is or what He has done. No, to preach Christ is to declare what the scriptures say about who… Read More
“And you He hath quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) The greatest evidence of spiritual death is that men and woman who do not know the true gospel and do not trust the true Christ can remain so and be satisfied. They are content being deceived and deluded by the offerings of false religion. The only remedy for such a condition is the quickening power and grace of… Read More
“Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5) God sovereignly separated this Jewish nation from all others (Deutereonomy 7:6-8). From this nation God called out sinners like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David and gave them faith in Christ. But still a much greater honor and exalted privilege was given to this nation, “Of whom as concerning the… Read More
“That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7) —————————— We have several great and blessed realities embodied in this one verse of the Bible–the address of the elder pastor to his junior in the ministry–the earnest and the affectionate exhortation–the brotherly conference (if I may so term it) between the elder Paul and Titus his own son in the faith…. Read More
The desire to be saved from hell is a natural desire motivated by fear and dread of punishment. Nobody wants to burn or spend eternity suffering. The desire to be saved from our sins and ourselves is a spiritual desire, a gift of God, and turns us to Christ. So long as a man thinks he is savable, he will never turn from himself to God. Oh, but let the spirit of… Read More
At the center of man-made religion is man’s choice. They say such things as “God’s done all He can do, He’s made salvation available, now it’s up to you, it’s your choice.” They often use Joshua’s words to the Israelites, “Choose you this day whom you will serve …” (Joshua 24:15). But Joshua spoke those words to that earthly nation of people under a legal covenant which was based on “do this and live,… Read More
“Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75) There has been much written and said of Peter’s failure and sin when he denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, but not much of Peter’s conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter sinned, but he did not lose… Read More
“Reproach hath broken my heart.” (Psalm 69:20) When the Son of God assumed our nature, though untainted by the fall and without sin, He came as the sinner’s Surety. He took upon Him the curse for sin. He was first made sin (2nd Corinthians 5:21) and then a curse for us (Galatisns 3:13). As such, He was invested with everything belonging to the frailties of our nature, which might expose that nature… Read More
“He took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:16) This was by no means a mere Jewish ritual or symbolic of a blessing bestowed. No! The Lord Jesus Christ, the LORD of Glory “blessed them,” and they were blessed; and no man could reverse it. It would have been rewarding to follow these children unto adulthood and watch as the blessings were revealed. These… Read More
“He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”(Mark 16:9) I cannot help pausing over this view of CHRIST’S grace to Mary Magdalene, that she should have the honour of beholding the LORD of life and glory the first of all His redeemed, after He rose from the dead. And as the Evangelist adds, out of whom He had cast seven devils. Doth it not seem to… Read More
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