“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”  (Hebrews 12:2).

The Lord Jesus Christ is “the author and finisher of our faith.” The faith of God’s elect begins with Christ giving us faith in Him by His sovereign will (Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 1:1). This faith that is the gift of God, which is a definite and sure faith, looks back to the Giver, Author and Finisher of faith, Christ Himself. He is the only object of saving faith.

This faith of God’s elect is also called “precious faith” (2 Peter 1:1) because it is given to us as a purchased gift of the precious blood of  Christ (1 Peter 1:18-20). This special and saving faith is given sovereignly and exclusively to the church of Christ alone. His sheep hear His voice, His call, and they fall in love with Him and follow Him fully to the end of their journey in this life (John 10:27-30; Heb. 11:13).

Let us never diminish the importance of this precious and saving gift of God’s grace, faith in Christ (Rom. 4:16)

-Tom Harding, pastor of Zebulon Baptist Church, Pikeville, Kentucky USA.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. John 14:1-4

What was it that would cause the disciples to be so troubled in heart as to need this word of comfort from Jesus? It was their sin. Peter was about to deny the Lord, and the rest of the disciples would forsake him in the hour of His greatest suffering. Even so, do our sins cause us much trouble. We who believe on Christ like Peter say, “Lord I would die with you!” We mean it with all our hearts, but let the Lord leave us to do it in our own strength and most surely we would deny him. At times, when Christ is near, we are able to walk on the waves of our troubles, but let Him hide his face and we begin to sink into despair (Psalm 143:7).

Here then is a word of comfort to such poor wretches who cannot save or keep ourselves, but are totally dependent upon God. Though your sin be ever so great and though your failures be ever so complete, Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled…” Sin does trouble our hearts, but here is the remedy; “ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Believer, in the very despair of thy sin, believe that God is just and holy. That thy sin surely deserves hell, but also believe on Christ who by His death has suffered the hell thy sin deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 40:2).

Remember that in the Father’s house are many dwelling places and that Christ has prepared them all. Believer thy surety of heaven rests not in your faithfulness or perfect obedience but in the faithfulness and perfection of Jesus thy surety. Have you believed on the Son of God? Have you trusted in Him alone? Then He has prepared a place in heaven for you and none will be able to separate us from it (Romans 8: 31-39).

Are you troubled by this world and the pains of this life? Are you oppressed by sin and vexed by Satan? Then rejoice for He who prepared a place will also come again and receive us unto Himself that where He is we may be also. Who or what then can separate us from Christ? God is pleased with us in Christ. Our sins are gone through His one offering, and now the Holy Spirit has made us righteous. Let not your heart be troubled.

-Fred Evans

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

This is the Revelation of God to us who believe on Christ: Blessed and Holy is He that hath part in the first Resurrection!

Have you a part in this first resurrection? Are you made Holy and Blessed by your union with Jesus Christ as your representative man (Ephesians 1:4-6; 1 Corinthians 1:30)?

Have you any part in the new birth by which we receive the holy nature of Jesus Christ and are cleansed by His blood (John 3:6-8; 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 9:22)?

Then happy are you, for you will never die and the second death has no power over you! Rejoice in the very teeth of your trials, for no power can harm you that is not ordained of God for your good and His glory. No power of hell, no will of man, nor circumstance of time can ever separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. May the Holy Spirit comfort us with these blessed revelations of His Holy Immutable and Sovereign word.

– Fred Evans

“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  John 5:23-24

We, by nature, cannot honor God.  We cannot and will not obey the law that is holy just and right.  But God in grace has sent His Son into the world to honor Him.  Thus the Son of God did all things that brought honor and glory to God.  He “magnified the law and made it honorable.”  Christ satisfied the justice of God for sin that all the torments of sinners in hell could not do for eternity.  Jesus Christ upon the cross shed his blood in obedience to the Father to accomplish the salvation of all God’s chosen people.  Only Jesus honored the Father by his faithfulness and obedience.

But how may sinful men honor the Father?  How may we who brought only shame and disgrace be accepted of God?  Jesus said, “He that honors me honors the Father,” and then in the next verse told us what that means.  “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life.”  To honor the Father is to honor the Son and believe on Him.  And this is the promise of God; that you who believe on Him have (presently) everlasting life, and there is no condemnation upon you, for you are passed from death to life.

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16)

“Redeeming the time,” could rightly be interpreted, “Buying the opportunity.” This is a metaphor that merchants and traders often use to strive to improve the way they do business. As believers, we would be wise to redeem the time that God has given us.

As we enter into a new year together, may God enable us to “redeem the time.” Time is a gift that God has entrusted with us. We should make the best use we can of God’s present season of grace. The reason that God has allowed us another NEW YEAR is that there are more of His elect to be redeemed under the preaching of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21).  May we redeem every opportunity God gives us to spread the glorious news of Christ and Him crucified. Why? “Because the days are evil.” We live in wicked, troubled and dangerous times. Preachers in their pulpits are not telling sinners that God Almighty is plenteous in mercy. Multitudes are going out to meet God without a Savior, a Substitute, and a Sacrifice, because they have not heard that Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).  Lord enable us to “Redeem the time,” so that we, like our Lord Jesus, may always be found to be about our Father’s business in the days to come.

– David Eddmenson, pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Madisonville, KY USA

Many are confused as to the reason for Christ’s coming into this world. False religion supposes that Christ came to die for men so that they may have a profitable and happy life in this world. That Jesus wants men to be healthy happy and successful in the things of this world. But the word of God is plain and cannot be misunderstood. Jesus Christ came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus Christ came to glorify God, magnify the law by his obedience and satisfy the justice of God for the sins of his elect people (John 17:1-3; Isaiah 42:21; Hebrews 10:14).

Therefore, all that comes to pass in time is according to the divine providence of God and is for the salvation and good of His chosen people (Isaiah 46:10; Romans 8:28). Everyone that the Father chose and the Son redeemed, the Spirit of God shall call and keep (1 Peter 1:2-5). None of God’s children will be lost (John 6:39). All that happens to them in this world is for their good. All that happens toward the wicked of this world is for the good of His saints (Genesis 50:20). So then, believer in Christ, let us take courage even in the midst of our trials, in the very teeth of our tribulation, for all things are of God and all things work together for our good (2 Corinthians 5:18). Our sickness or health, in poverty’s vail or abounding in wealth – all things are of God and are purposed; and will be used of God for the glory of His name and the calling and keeping of our souls. Therefore, rejoice, you his saints, no matter your circumstances, for Jesus has accomplished all he purposed to do; for He has saved us, He is saving us, and he shall save us.

Fred Evans

“Only one thing is needed!” How true that saying! The longer we live in the world, the more true it will appear. The nearer we come to the grave, the more thoroughly we shall assent to it. Health, and money, and lands, and rank, and honors, and prosperity are all well in their way. But they cannot be called needful. Without them, thousands are happy in this world and reach glory in the world to come. The “many things” which men and women are continually struggling for are not really necessities. The grace of God which brings salvation is the one thing needful.

-J.C Ryle

“To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe”  (Philippians 3:1).

We have gathered together to hear the same things. Nothing new or novel is needed. A part of the greatness of the Gospel is that the old, old, story is always new and fresh. There is nothing like that in this world. Everything in this world at some point will become old and stale.  But not the Gospel!

It is always New!  It is still thrilling to hear of the character of the Living God, and how that salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Father when He elected a people in Christ before time began. This election was unconditional!  Nothing in us that moved Him to choose us! Salvation is of the Son in redemption. Before time, He stood as the Surety of the elect and took full responsibility for their salvation. He came to this earth as their representative, kept the law for them, died to pay for their sins, and was raised because of their justification. Truly, He is All in salvation.

Salvation is of the Spirit in regeneration. God the Holy Spirit comes in invincible power and gives life to those the Father chose and the Son redeemed so that they believe the old, old story.  The Gospel becomes good news indeed.  They are given a new nature that loves God and perseveres in the faith, being preserved by the Spirit of God.

Paul said the repetition of it was “not grievous.” It only becomes grievous when you do not hear as a sinner! When we do not hear as a sinner, we have left our first love, and have fallen into a lukewarm state. Heavenly manna has become light bread. But if we hear as a sinner, the same things are not old and stale, but good news from a far country! Paul adds, “For you this is safe.”  This only is safe.  Any new message or method is treacherous!  But the “same things” are safe.

-Pastor Todd Nibert of Todds Road Grace Church, Lexington, KY USA

“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 1:7)

It is a blessing to experience those times when all seems well and faith comes easily; when it seems the very air is filled with the presence of the Lord. Such times are a blessing, but they are no proof of true faith. Faith is proven when it endures the HARD times. When the heart is broken, the mind confused, and the body weak, then is faith put to the test and proven whether it be genuine. When faith survives those times when there is NO FEELING to verify it, NO EVIDENCE to confirm it, and NO FLESHLY ENERGY to sustain it, then and only then can we discover that we have that faith that is “the gift of God.” God’s gifts are “without repentance,” and this is as true of faith as any of His other gifts. We know we have believed when we never repent of our faith but believe in the very face of all that is opposed to faith. This is the trial and proof of faith.

– Joe Terrell, Pastor of Grace Community Church, Rock Valley, IA

If we truly believe God, we will serve him with confidence and peace, simply trusting his total sovereignty, power, wisdom, and grace.  The fear of man shall not be a threat to us.  The favor of man shall not be a motive to us. The circumstances of the hour shall not pressure us.  And the desire for results shall not alter our message, or cause us to employ the devised methods of others.  If we believe God, we will simply perform our responsibilities faithfully and wait upon the Lord to perform his work according to his own will.

-Don Fortner, Pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Danville, KY USA