Church membership has become the best place to hide from God.  Religious beliefs and experiences serve as refuges to shield them from the arrows of conviction and the message of real redemption in Christ. Everybody in this super church is “saved” and are insulted if the question of their interest in Christ is raised or ever suggested.  There is no possible way to confront these “know-so Salvationists” with the gospel of God’s glory!  The so-called church of today exists as a social power, a political power and as a powerful body in the community; but it has lost its true nature as the body of Christ.  They have sold their birthright for respectability, social and intellectual acceptance.

-Rolfe Barnard

The subtlety of Satan is
such that there are those in our day who so vehemently stress and emphasize
Christ’s imputed righteousness as the sinner’s only ground of justification
before God, that they fail to preach CHRIST HIMSELF who is our righteousness,
CHRIST, “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption.”  Consequently, they may be leading men and women to trust
in a system of theology, rather than in CHRIST, who is the sum and substance of
all theology. 

We worship that gloriously unique God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary.  He is our Sacrifice.  He is the very sum and substance of our theology, that divine truth we know and love.  What we call “Calvinism” or “The Doctrines of Grace” are embodied in Him.  One may be familiar with those doctrines and not know Him, but one cannot know Him and have a lasting problem with those doctrines, because . . . they emanate from Him, being of the very essence of His glorious Person and Work.  True faith (the gift of God wrought through His Word, Ephesians 2:810; Romans 10:17) cannot conceive of Him as being anything less than absolutely sovereign, nor of His work, for and in the sinner, as being anything other than absolutely free and totally effectual.  Thus, praise His Name!  He is a real and sure hope for real, helpless, “dead dog” sinners! 

Jesus Christ, in the totality of His glorious person and His efficacious work, is the sum and substance of all that we hold dearest, and of all that we are and have in our relationship with the Father. 

-Maurice Montgomery

I am not one of God’s elect because of something good God saw in me. There never was, is not now, and never will be any good in our flesh.  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Paul said he knew it. The problem with most religious folks is they don’t know it, and until they do, they will continue to brag and boast of what they have done for God.

I am not one of God’s elect because of something God saw I would do. Left to my own will, I would have continued in darkness and even now would depart from God.  I am not one of God’s elect because God needed me. It bothers me when we leave the impression with anyone that God or the church of the Lord Jesus can profit any way from our presence, influence, or gifts. When will we ever learn that we are receivers and beggars? There is not one ounce of goodness in any son of Adam that could be used to commend one’s self to God. “What has thou that thou did not receive?”

By the grace of God, I am what I am. It was grace that set me apart before time was. It was His Grace that made me an object of His love. It was His grace that laid hold of me when I was in the pit and brought me to the Lord Jesus. And if it be my lot to continue in the faith, and grow in faith and love, to die in hope, and be raised in Glory, it will be all of grace. Thanks be unto Him who alone is worthy of glory and honor. 

-Donnie Bell, Pastor of Latana Grace Church, Crossville, TN U.S.A.

 “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” Song of Songs 4:7

Although a poor tried child of God may feel the force of his inbred sin and have to continually struggle with it — and though he may, from day to day, be conscious of his many imperfections — yet before those eyes which see everything, there is no flaw to be seen upon the believer in Christ. I mean no flaw in this respect — that he can never be condemned or punished for his sin. His sin is finally and fully and forever pardoned!

Oh, what a glorious truth is this!

-C. H. Spurgeon

What is the ONE thing that you desire the most? If you would be honest with yourself this morning — and be honest before God who knows your heart — what is the ONE THING that you want more than anything? Is your desire to have the perfect family? Is it to have perfect children, a perfect husband, a perfect wife, or is it to live a trouble free life? Is it to be rich with all the pleasures of this life? Is it to fulfill all your lusts and passions? Whatever your heart desires the most — THAT is your treasure. Jesus Christ warns us concerning this treasure of the heart:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

If your ONE desire — the ONE thing that you want the most — is of this world, then know that it is fleeting. All the things of this life are empty and cannot give you any lasting satisfaction.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities;
all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2

There is no new thing under the sun! All that the men of this generation desire now they have desired in all the past generations — and have not been satisfied with them.

There is only One that can give lasting joy, peace, and satisfaction to guilty sinners, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ alone has fulfilled the righteousness of God. Jesus Christ alone has satisfied the justice of God by His one offering for sins. Jesus Christ alone has risen from the dead and is seated on the right hand of God, ruling all things after the counsel of His own will.

Oh sinners, flee to Jesus Christ by faith! May God the Holy Spirit quicken your dead soul to life so that you may know Him and the power of His resurrection. May God reveal to your soul that Jesus is the ONE that saves, gives life and peace with God and forgives sinners.

-F.E

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalms 119:71

I complain without a cause, seeing it is good for me to be afflicted. Whatever be food to the soul, surely affliction is a good medicine. There is a necessity for affliction, to preserve the health of the soul. Can a much esteemed flower think that it is unkindly dealt with, because the weeds that twisted with its roots are plucked away with force, such force that the flower seems to be pulled along? Just so am I displeased at severe afflictions, sent to root out some rampant lusts, or deep rooted earthly affections, when afflictions less severe would prove ineffectual for such a noble end. Corruption is never totally removed — it is only subdued in part. The more I am afflicted — the more it is subdued.

While here below; the ‘intoxicating juice of carnal pleasure’ breeds diseases; so that the ‘bitter medicine of affliction’ is absolutely necessary to dispel those infections which threaten damage to the soul. Since it is not my happiness to be free from sin below; it is my happiness that I am not without afflictions — which are a noble antidote against sin. I have reason to bewail, bitterly to bewail, the corruption of my nature; but not the correction of my corruption. Were I punished as I deserve; instead of being washed with the soap of affliction; I would be swept away with the broom of destruction. What condemned criminal would rage at the loss of a finger, who deserved to have lost his head? So; why should I repine at a little ill; who deserves a great deal worse?

Indeed, at all times, and in every case, I should not look to the hand of God — but into his heart; not barely look upon the providence with fear; but into the promise with faith; where, be the providence adverse or prosperous, to my comfort I am told that all things work together for good to God’s called and chosen ones. If my fluctuating bosom is composed amidst all my sorrows, by a firm belief in the promise — that happy moment I find the promise performed to me; and aver, with the royal sufferer, “It has been good for me that I have been afflicted.”

-James Meikle

Jesus, my advocate above,
My friend before the throne of love,
If now for me prevails Thy prayer,
If now I find Thee pleading there,
If Thou the secret wish convey,
And sweetly prompt my heart to pray;
Hear, and my weak petitions join,
Almighty advocate, to Thine.

Fain would I know my utmost ill,
And groan my nature’s weight to feel,
To feel the clouds that round me roll,
The night that hangs upon my soul,
The darkness of my carnal mind,
My will perverse, my passions blind,
Scattered o’er all the earth abroad,
Immeasurably far from God.

Jesus, my heart’s desire obtain!
My earnest suit present, and gain;
My fullness of corruption show,
The knowledge of myself bestow;
A deeper displacence at sin,
A sharper sense of hell within,
A stronger struggling to get free,
A keener appetite for Thee.

O sovereign love, to Thee I cry,
Give me Thyself, or else I die!
Save me from death, from hell set free,
Death, hell, are but the want of Thee.
Quickened by Thy imparted flame,
Saved, when possessed of Thee, I am;
My life, my only heaven Thou art,
O might I feel Thee in my heart!

-Charles Wesley

. . . He careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

For that child of God who is laboring under some present distress, there are no words sweeter than these — “He careth for you!” He cares for your soul. He cares so much that he gave his only begotten Son to redeem you from sin and supply you with every spiritual need. Surely, if Jesus Christ died to redeem your soul from death, you must know his great care. Not only is that so, the Lord God tenderly cares for the bodies and the concerns of the lives of his people. Do you believe that He cares? Then cast your care upon the Lord!

Are
you troubled about your sin? Cast it upon the Lord. Are you troubled about some
personal trial? Cast it upon the Lord. He was tempted in all points like as we
are. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is able to help them
that believe. Go, therefore, with your heavy burden to the throne of your
merciful High Priest, cast your burden there and find grace and mercy to help
in your time of need.

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

He can tell you that he was so blind — but now God has given him eyes to see sin to be the greatest evil, and Christ to be the choicest good.

He can tell you that once he was so deaf — that though God called very often and very loudly to him — yet he could not hear! But now God has given him a hearing ear so that now he can with delight hear the sweet music of the promises on the one hand; and with a holy trembling listen to the voice of divine threatenings on the other hand.

He can tell you that once he was so dumb — that he could not have spoken a good word for God, His ways, His people, nor for any of His concernments. Oh! but now his tongue is as the pen of a ready writer. Now he can contend for the faith, and speak for saints.

He can tell you that once he was so lame — that he was not able to move one-foot heaven-wards, nor Christ-wards. But now his feet delight, not only to go — but to run in all the ways of God’s commands!

Yes, he can tell you that once he was so dead — as to all his soul-concerns. But now he is alive, and the life that he leads in the flesh, is by faith in the Son of God, who has loved him and given Himself for him, Gal. 2:20.

That the tide of sin, which before did run so strong — should be so easily turned; that the sinner who, a little before was sailing hell-ward, and lacked neither wind nor tide to carry him there — should now suddenly alter his course, and tack about for heaven — what a miracle is this!

To see an earthly man become heavenly, a carnal man become spiritual, a loose man become precise, a proud man becomes humble, a covetous man become liberal, and a harsh man become meek, is to behold the greatest of miracles!

-Thomas Brooks

There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation – the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands – the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne.

On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean;

But when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth, and [when] we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust.

-C. H. Spurgeon