"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded." -Philippians 3:15 [KJV] Speaking of righteousness unto justification of eternal life, St. Paul says, “The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded , ” (Romans 11:7.) What were they blinded by? Their own righteousness. This, like a cloud, intercepted the glory of the sun of righteousness from their minds. Their own righteousness prevented them from feeling the want of the righteousness of Christ, to justify them before God.  So of perfection. Many are so blinded with their own fancied perfection, that they see not the glorious perfection of Christ, and the way in which sinners in themselves, are absolutely perfect in Him. St. Paul just before said, he was not perfect. Now he says, he is perfect. What can he mean? Ironically, say some; by way of severe sarcasm upon those who fancied themselves perfect.  Say others, comparatively perfect, with respect to those who were ignorant of Christ: perf...

"Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy." -Luke 10:19 [KJV] Astonishing the mercy, and wonderful the privilege manifested to the followers of the Lamb! Poor, and weak, and helpless, as they are in themselves, yet how strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus! My soul, never lose sight of these blessed things. In Jesus thou art not only a conqueror, but more than conqueror. As the armies in heaven overcame by the blood of the Lamb, so here below, it is all in Him, and by Him, the victory is obtained. God will bruise-Satan under our feet shortly; but it is God that must bruise him, and it is He that must put him under our feet. Oh for grace to see where our strength is, and as cheerfully to ascribe all to Him; that He, in whom we are made to tread on serpents and scorpions, may have the glory due to His name, that He who gives the strength may have the praise. -preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.) ...

"...and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."   -Philippians 3:9 [KJV] Here are the two righteousnesses clearly laid down, in one or other of which we must all stand before God—the righteousness which is of the law, and the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ. But bear this in mind, that a righteousness to be available before God must be a perfect righteousness.  This righteousness no man ever did or could produce by his own obedience to the law, for no man ever yet loved God "with all his heart and soul and mind and strength, and his neighbour as himself;" and if a man do not thus love God and thus love his neighbour, he is accursed and condemned already by that righteous law which curseth "every one who continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Now the apostle f...