The Believer’s Undefilable Treasure

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Gold and silver, those precious metals, take no injury, receive no spot of corruption from the vessel in which they are contained; let them be buried in the damp earth, no tarnish or rust forms upon them. So spiritually, the grace of God in the heart, surrounded as it is with corruption, is not tarnished by it, the heavenly treasure is not contaminated, though lodged in an earthen vessel.

Christ in the heart is not defiled by the inward workings of depravity, and by the base thoughts that strive perpetually against his grace, any more than the gold of the Bank of England is defiled by the dark and damp cellars in which it is stowed. And what a mercy it is, that our corruptions cannot tarnish the grace of God; that our unbelief cannot mix with, and adulterate the faith of God’s elect; that our despondency cannot spoil and ruin a gospel hope; that our deadness, darkness, coldness, and rebellion cannot mingle with and defile the love of God in the soul!

This heavenly treasure remains still as unpolluted and pure as when God first put it there; being a part of “the divine nature,” it remains uncontaminated by the filth and corruption that surround it. Is not this a mercy for God’s tried people, that spiritual knowledge, living faith, gospel hope, heavenly love, and the fruits and graces of God’s Spirit in the soul can never be defiled; but, like the streams of a fountain, are ever gushing forth in pure water?

What a blessing it is, that the pure grace of God in a man’s heart cannot be contaminated by the filthy streams that are dashing from a vile nature against it, like the torrents of water from a fire-engine against a burning house, but remains as pure as when God the Spirit first breathed it into the soul.

                                                                                                                                                                 – J.C Philpot



Purposed to Righteousness

Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.(Isaiah 60:21)
     This surely was God’s Sovereign will from all eternity that all His chosen people should be righteous.  God has decreed that His elect should be holy and without blame and put them in union with Jesus Christ His Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6) 
     Therefore these who shall be righteous were planted in Christ as their federal head and were before the foundation of the world “accepted in the beloved.”  Yet this righteousness that God decreed must also be performed by Jesus Christ in time.  For we read of God’s Sovereign counsel and will that all He has purposed in eternity must be accomplished in time. (Isaiah 46:10; 55:11; Psalm 33:9) 
     Therefore Jesus has come into the world according to the scriptures to accomplish the righteousness of His church. (Daniel 9:24) This work of salvation is the work of Christ’s own hands.  Christ said,“Lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God.”  Christ “delighted” to do the will of God and by the “which will we are sanctified through offering of the body of Christ once for all”. (Hebrews 10:7-8)
     Behold how we were born in the blackness and darkness of sin, yet God has purposed that we should be righteous and blameless by the work of Jesus Christ alone. (Titus 3:3-7; Ezekiel 36:29-32)) We sat in darkness but now the Light of the gospel has risen upon our hearts and revealed that Christ has by His one offering put away our sins and has reconciled us to God. (Isaiah 60:2)  Jesus our federal head has brought in everlasting righteousness by His obedience to God.  Therefore rejoice all you who believe on Him alone, for God has also decreed that we should inherit the land for ever, which is eternal life (John 10:28; 1 Peter 1:4) And this is inheritance is most sure even because our salvation is eternally in union with the glory of God.  All our salvation is for this purpose: “that I may be glorified.”(Ephesians 1:6;12;14)  Shall God’s glory fail?  No! And neither shall our salvation which God purposed, Christ accomplished and the Holy Spirit applies and Keeps.                             
– F.E


The Trials of God’s Saints

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ    (1 Peter 1:6-7)
     Remember to pray for those saints who are in great affliction and cast down by the trials and troubles of this present time. Let us weep with those who weep and pray that God would comfort them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For to the saint there is no other comfort that soothes our hearts and dries our tears than to hear of God’s Sovereign eternal electing Love that stirs our hearts to Love God.  It is Christ’s one offering for sin that gives us joy and peace no matter our circumstance.  It is the message of the Holy Spirit’s keeping power and grace that assures us that no matter what men do, or how Satan roars against us, we are sure of eternal life and glory in Christ. 
     Believer, when He shall appear then will all sorrow cease, all tears will be wiped away by the tender hand of Christ.  Then we shall forever worship Christ in peace and love.  Let us therefore look in hope for this day that is soon to come.
– F.E