The Lord Jesus possesses all kinds of lovelinesses compacted into one perfect loveliness! all perfections blended to make one perfection! Every sweet concocted and distilled to make one perfect sweetness! Oh, how one longs for but a moment's sight of Christ in glory! One might be content to have only a dry crust, and to lie in an underground dungeon for the rest of one's life, if one might but gaze on his blessed face for once, and hear him say, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Those who truly love the Savior wish to know all that can be known about him.
True love likes to become familiar with the object of its affection; its heart is set upon that object, it studies it, and can never know it too well or too closely.
True love to Christ thinks of him from morning till night; it is glad to be released from other thoughts that it may follow only its one darling pursuit.
True love to Christ seeks to get to him, to live with him, to live upon him, and thus to know him so intimately that things which were unobserved and passed over at the first, stand out in clear light to the increased joy and delight of the contemplative mind.
If you have but a 'spark' of love for Jesus in your heart, Jesus has a 'furnace' of love for you in His heart! By C.H. Spurgeon
September 29, 2005
September 27, 2005
The time of Love by Don Fortner
There is a day appointed by God for the salvation of his elect,
a day fixed from eternity when grace will come to the chosen
sinner, an hour determined before the world began when the
Good Shepherd will seek out and find his lost sheep.
There is a time fixed before time began, called "the time of love,”
when the predestined child, the elect sinner, redeemed by the
blood of Christ, must be saved. At that hour, salvation must
and shall come to the soul loved of God with an everlasting love.
Only one thing is really important in this matter, only one
question must be answered, only one issue must be settled.
“Do you believe on the Son of God?”
You will know that God has saved you, that you are chosen,
redeemed, and called by grace, when you find yourself believing
the gospel. Do you believe? If you do, the Lord has sought you
out and found you by his grace.
-byDon Fortner
a day fixed from eternity when grace will come to the chosen
sinner, an hour determined before the world began when the
Good Shepherd will seek out and find his lost sheep.
There is a time fixed before time began, called "the time of love,”
when the predestined child, the elect sinner, redeemed by the
blood of Christ, must be saved. At that hour, salvation must
and shall come to the soul loved of God with an everlasting love.
Only one thing is really important in this matter, only one
question must be answered, only one issue must be settled.
“Do you believe on the Son of God?”
You will know that God has saved you, that you are chosen,
redeemed, and called by grace, when you find yourself believing
the gospel. Do you believe? If you do, the Lord has sought you
out and found you by his grace.
-byDon Fortner
September 22, 2005
Sitting at Jesus Feet by Don Bell
Luke 10:39
What a world of meaning is in these words, "Mary, which also sat at his feet, and heard his word." This is indeed the "one thing needful." It means peace for those who sit at his feet, for they who submit to him have peace through his precious blood. It means holiness, they who learn of the Lord Jesus, learn the horridness of sin, but he teaches them "things lovely and pure." It also means strength, sitting at his feet they learn by him that he is all their strength, for he is their food, his righteousness their clothing. It means wisdom, he who instructs them in his word is the very Wisdom of God. He teaches them that this is true wisdom, that makes the wisdom of the world to be foolishness.
"Sitting at his feet" means zeal, for the love of their Lord Jesus fires up their heart and soul. They become zealous for his name, for his gospel, for his glory. It means loyalty, for they are loyal to their sovereign, their King, who is the King Of Kings. They serve under his banner, and they will be loyal to him all the days of their lives, they are loyal to his commands, his laws. For it was him who defeated all their enemies, and is the "captain of their salvation."
The long and the short of "sitting at his feet to hear his word, is the one thing needful." (Luke 10:39-42). We who believe do indeed love him, for he first loved us. O beloved, what a world of blessings there are in "sitting at his feet, hearing his word." Don Bell
What a world of meaning is in these words, "Mary, which also sat at his feet, and heard his word." This is indeed the "one thing needful." It means peace for those who sit at his feet, for they who submit to him have peace through his precious blood. It means holiness, they who learn of the Lord Jesus, learn the horridness of sin, but he teaches them "things lovely and pure." It also means strength, sitting at his feet they learn by him that he is all their strength, for he is their food, his righteousness their clothing. It means wisdom, he who instructs them in his word is the very Wisdom of God. He teaches them that this is true wisdom, that makes the wisdom of the world to be foolishness.
"Sitting at his feet" means zeal, for the love of their Lord Jesus fires up their heart and soul. They become zealous for his name, for his gospel, for his glory. It means loyalty, for they are loyal to their sovereign, their King, who is the King Of Kings. They serve under his banner, and they will be loyal to him all the days of their lives, they are loyal to his commands, his laws. For it was him who defeated all their enemies, and is the "captain of their salvation."
The long and the short of "sitting at his feet to hear his word, is the one thing needful." (Luke 10:39-42). We who believe do indeed love him, for he first loved us. O beloved, what a world of blessings there are in "sitting at his feet, hearing his word." Don Bell
September 20, 2005
What is a Church? By Don Fortner
Baptists have constantly debated the meaning of the word "church", or assembly, for the last century. Their debate, I fear, has done much harm to the kingdom of our Lord and to the honor of His name. A church of Christ is much more than a congregation of men assembled together for the purpose of promoting a creed and continuing the ordinances. If we are a true church of Christ, we have much stronger ties than the waters of baptism produce.
Every true local assembly is a miniature of the church universal, as described by Paul in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11-22. A true church is a "habitation of God through the Spirit". It is important that we, as believers, be properly immersed, observe the Lord's Supper, and hold to a sound creed. But, this is the question of great concern, "Are we a habitation of God?" If not, all these other things are mere vanities of religious ritualism!
A church is a family, united by the blood of Christ. A church is a body, with Christ as its head. A church is a kingdom, under the dominion of Christ. A church is a brotherhood, established in the love of Christ. A church is a temple, built upon Christ, the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
It is our desire that the Savior's promise will be constantly fulfilled to us as a church of Christ – "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Christ's presence is the one thing we must have! Are we a habitation of God through the Spirit? Let us walk in love, "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Let us be careful that we "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption. By Donald Fortner
Every true local assembly is a miniature of the church universal, as described by Paul in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 11-22. A true church is a "habitation of God through the Spirit". It is important that we, as believers, be properly immersed, observe the Lord's Supper, and hold to a sound creed. But, this is the question of great concern, "Are we a habitation of God?" If not, all these other things are mere vanities of religious ritualism!
A church is a family, united by the blood of Christ. A church is a body, with Christ as its head. A church is a kingdom, under the dominion of Christ. A church is a brotherhood, established in the love of Christ. A church is a temple, built upon Christ, the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.
It is our desire that the Savior's promise will be constantly fulfilled to us as a church of Christ – "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Christ's presence is the one thing we must have! Are we a habitation of God through the Spirit? Let us walk in love, "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Let us be careful that we "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption. By Donald Fortner
September 15, 2005
The Cause of Salvation by A. W. Pink
It may be shown from scripture that the CAUSE of salvation is not a single one, as so many suppose-- the blood of Christ. Here, too, it is necessary to distinguish between things which differ. First, the ORIGINATING cause of salvation is the eternal purpose of God, or, in other words, the predestinating grace of the Father. Second, the MERITORIOUS cause of salvation is the mediation of Christ, this having particular respect to the legal side of things, or, in other words, His fully meeting the demands of the law on the behalf and in the stead of those He redeems. Third, the EFFICIENT cause of salvation is the regenerating and sanctifying operations of the Holy Spirit, which respect the experimental side of it, or, in other words, the Spirit works IN us what Christ purchased FOR us. Thus, we owe our personal salvation equally to each Person in the Trinity, and not to one (the Son) more than to the others. Fourth, the INSTRUMENTAL cause is our faith, obedience, and perseverance; though we are not saved because of them, equally true is it that we cannot be saved (according to God's appointment) without them. By A.W. Pink
September 12, 2005
The way to hell? By Spurgeon
That eye which sees anything good in man is a blind eye. That eye which fancies it can discern anything in man, or in anything he can do to win the divine favor, is stone blind to the truth as yet, and needs to be lanced and cut, and the cataract of pride removed from it. People have the idea that going to church and chapel, taking the sacraments, and doing certain good deeds that pertain to a respectable profession of religion, are the way to heaven. But that is the way to hell.
Poor sinners, trust Jesus Christ now. Just as you are, come to him now. Bring nothing with you, come empty handed. Do not robe yourself, come naked. Do not wash yourself, come filthy. Do not seek to soften your heart, come with it hard as it is. You cannot come to Christ any other way. Come now to his cross.
He that believes is justified from all things. Your sins are gone, your soul is accepted.
You are saved, and you shall see his face, and sing his love in glory everlasting! By C.H. Spurgeon
Poor sinners, trust Jesus Christ now. Just as you are, come to him now. Bring nothing with you, come empty handed. Do not robe yourself, come naked. Do not wash yourself, come filthy. Do not seek to soften your heart, come with it hard as it is. You cannot come to Christ any other way. Come now to his cross.
He that believes is justified from all things. Your sins are gone, your soul is accepted.
You are saved, and you shall see his face, and sing his love in glory everlasting! By C.H. Spurgeon
September 06, 2005
Three books by J. C. Philpot
There are three books which, if a man will read and study, he can dispense with most others.
1. The book of Providence--and this he reads to good purpose, when he sees written down line by line the providential dealings of God with him, and a ray of Divine light gilds every line.
2. The Word of God--and this he reads to profit, when the blessed Spirit applies it with power to his soul.
3. The book of his own heart--and this he studies with advantage, when he reads in the new man of grace the blessed dealings of God with his soul-- and in the old man of sin and death, enough to fill him with shame and confusion of face, and make him loathe and abhor himself in dust and ashes.
by J.C. Philpot
1. The book of Providence--and this he reads to good purpose, when he sees written down line by line the providential dealings of God with him, and a ray of Divine light gilds every line.
2. The Word of God--and this he reads to profit, when the blessed Spirit applies it with power to his soul.
3. The book of his own heart--and this he studies with advantage, when he reads in the new man of grace the blessed dealings of God with his soul-- and in the old man of sin and death, enough to fill him with shame and confusion of face, and make him loathe and abhor himself in dust and ashes.
by J.C. Philpot
September 01, 2005
God's Gracious Gifts by Scott Price
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and, comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning. By His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." James 1:17-18
God's people can gather in their minds much to be thankful for as they understand the above text. All gifts and spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3) are all given to us, by God, based on the one predominant fact, that we are "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph 1:6). God sovereignly bestows His gifts in our direction on purpose; His purpose in Christ. Everything that Christ is to us, for us, and in us is a gracious gift of God. God Almighty loved His people so much that He gave His only begotten Son so all that is required from them, or lacking in them is supplied in, by, and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith and repentance are spiritual blessings that are both gifts from God. Christ purchased these by His own blood and the Spirit distributes and applies these gifts to God's people. Many other gifts could be added to the list, but in closing let me mention a good gift that most would look on as not really something positive. That gift is suffering and persecution. Note in Philippians 1:29 "For unto you it is given to you in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Also, in Romans 8:28, the "all things" mentioned includes some things which are not real pleasant at the time they are experienced: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." In Genesis 50:20 God's inspired word shows an example of Romans 8:28 in action in the grace shown to Joseph and others: "But as for you, ye meant it for evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Let us not forget that God is wise in all His works and is gracious even. This can only be seen and understood by faith and not by sight. by Scott Price
God's people can gather in their minds much to be thankful for as they understand the above text. All gifts and spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3) are all given to us, by God, based on the one predominant fact, that we are "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph 1:6). God sovereignly bestows His gifts in our direction on purpose; His purpose in Christ. Everything that Christ is to us, for us, and in us is a gracious gift of God. God Almighty loved His people so much that He gave His only begotten Son so all that is required from them, or lacking in them is supplied in, by, and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith and repentance are spiritual blessings that are both gifts from God. Christ purchased these by His own blood and the Spirit distributes and applies these gifts to God's people. Many other gifts could be added to the list, but in closing let me mention a good gift that most would look on as not really something positive. That gift is suffering and persecution. Note in Philippians 1:29 "For unto you it is given to you in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Also, in Romans 8:28, the "all things" mentioned includes some things which are not real pleasant at the time they are experienced: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." In Genesis 50:20 God's inspired word shows an example of Romans 8:28 in action in the grace shown to Joseph and others: "But as for you, ye meant it for evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Let us not forget that God is wise in all His works and is gracious even. This can only be seen and understood by faith and not by sight. by Scott Price
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