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

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." -Acts 16:31 [KJV]   About 30% of the world’s population professes to be “Christian”.  All of them would say they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Two questions:  What does the Bible mean by believe and Who exactly is the Lord Jesus Christ on whom we must believe?     Most all of those 2.3 billion people would attribute their faith either to a decision they made, or something they have always had. This is not what the Bible means by “believe.”   To believe is not a choice.  It is a miraculous work of grace in the heart that shuts us up to Christ as our only hope.     It is an irresistible gift of God.  Believing is not our contribution in salvation. It is a confession , brought about by the new birth , that we have nothing in ourselves to contribute.   Who is the Lord Jesus Christ on whom we must believe to be saved?     The...

FREE WILL OR FREE GRACE? The Bible does not teach that man has a free will.  “It is not of him that willeth”   (Romans 9:16) .  The will of man is under the dominion of his sinful nature.  That does not mean the will of the new nature is not involved in a man’s salvation.  Paul said, “To will is present with me” and “It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure” and “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”    But if  I believe any part of my salvation to be ultimately dependent upon my will, the choices I make, and not ultimately dependent upon God’s will, I am operating in the realm of salvation by works.   Every aspect of false religion begins with man’s will and the choices he  makes…. to do or not to do.  If that is the case (and it is not), then salvation and personal growth are ultimately dependent upon your will.   You get at least some of the glory, and you...

"Take heed and beware of covetousness."   -Luke 12:15 [KJV] It is said, if a person seeks for the philosopher’s stone (which turns all metals into gold) with a covetous desire to be rich, he may be sure not to find it. We are sure, that precious jewel contentment, is not to be found in a covetous heart. Let philosophers and moralists reason ever so persuasively against the evil of covetousness, yet the love of money will rise superior to all. What mighty charms are there in gold! But the voice of our Beloved here speaks. His words are spirit and life. Hear then, O disciple, “take heed and beware.”  Consider, (1st.) This admonition of thy Lord. It is redoubled. “Take heed: beware!”  Just as the loving parent, seeing his dear child running into the jaws of danger, cries out with vehemence, Take care! take care!  Fix this in thy mind, there is great, very great danger here. Our Lord sees it. His love speaks with the utmost earnestness, that we may avoid cov...

"...he went on frowardly in the way of his heart; I have seen his ways, and will heal him."   -Isaiah 57:17, 18 [KJV] Pause, my soul, over this sweet scripture; and while thou readest it, wilt thou not cry out with David, in the contemplation of the overwhelming mercy: "And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?"   (II Samuel 7:19.) Think, Oh my soul, how it was with thee, when in the days of thy unregeneracy thou wentest on frowardly in the way of thy perverse heart. Who could have stopped thee, had not sovereign grace?  And how justly might the Lord have said, I have seen thy ways, and will punish thee; I will give thee over to a reprobate mind, and forsake thee for ever! —Oh the riches of grace, when, from my very unworthiness, the Lord took occasion to magnify His love and mercy. Oh Lord Jesus, do Thou incline the heart that Thou hast healed to live to Thy praise, and let the life Thou hast saved from destruction, be spent in Thy service. -preacher Ro...

"These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their meat in due season."   -Psalm 104:27 [KJV] The " meat " which God's children long after, is to have " the truth as it is in Jesus ," in its various branches, revealed with power to their heart. Not merely to see a certain truth in God's word; that is like a hungry beggar looking at savoury provision through a window, from which he is barred out; such a sight whets his appetite rather than satisfies it. The meat that God's people are longing after, and the only thing which can assuage their spiritual hunger, is "the truth as it is in Jesus"   manifested, revealed, discovered, and applied with power to their souls; dew, unction, savour, sweetness, life, light, liberty accompanying the word, so that truth falls as heavenly manna into their hearts.  It is not sufficient that the Holy Ghost should create the appetite, but He must overshadow the soul with His divine infl...