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

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" -I  Corinthians 15:3 [KJV]   The gospel is not just that Christ died. The gospel is how that He died for us according to God's eternal and immutable decree, "the scriptures" (Acts 2:23: Revelation 13:8) .   The scriptures declare that His death was appointed (Genesis 3:15; 22:8; Psalm 22; Psalm 69; Matthew 16:21; Galatians 4:4) .   The scriptures declare that His death was voluntary, He willingly laid down His life for us (Isaiah 53:7; John 10:17-18) .   The scriptures declare that His death was substitutionary (Isaiah 53:4-6; II Corinthians 5:21; I Peter 3:18 ) .   The scriptures declare that His death was to accomplish definite atonement for His people (Isaiah 53:8; Matthew 1:21; John 10:15, 19:30; Hebrews 2:17) .   The scriptures declare that His death satisfied all the demands of God's holy Law (Isaiah 42:21; 53:1...

“ I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)...”   -I Corinthians 16:15 [KJV] -------0-------      The word "Addicted" means; to surrender one’s self habitually, or to become dependent upon, or to be very enthusiastic about. We usually use this word in a negative way, but here in reference to the believer it is very positive, "they have addicted themselves to the ministry."   Believers have surrendered to Christ, submitted to Him, His rule and reign (Psalm 110:3; Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:9-10) .   Believers are totally dependent upon Christ for all of their salvation (I Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 4:19) .   Believers are very enthusiastic about the good news of God's mercy to sinners in Christ (Luke 18:14; I Timothy 1:15) .    Their confession of faith is, "He has done all things well" (Mark 7:37) , in creation (Ge...

     Most think that any sermon delivered in a pulpit, from a text taken from the Bible, must be the Gospel.  Many think if the preacher does not step on their toes, it is the Gospel.  But many things spoken from the pulpit, using the Bible as an excuse, are not the Gospel.  When Paul described preaching the Gospel, he said it was to preach  "Christ and Him crucified."   He preached Christ as appointed by God, our  "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption."   He gloried in the Cross of Christ.  The Gospel declares all condemned, and our inability to save ourselves.   The Gospel reveals our heart, and our need of a Saviour.  It declares God's righteousness.  It gives the assurance of pardon and salvation to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ .    -preacher Milton Howard 

"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto Thee.  Hide not Thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline Thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.  For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth." - Psalm 102:1-3 [KJV]  -------0-------  "CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY." This is the sum and substance of our gospel and is the great article of faith.    WHO DIED? Christ, the only-begotten, well-beloved Son of God in human nature (Romans 8:34; Matthew 3:16-17) .    HOW DID HE DIE? A death of shame, under the wrath and judgment of God (Philippians 2:8) .   WHY DID HE DIE? He died for, in the stead of, and as a sub­stitute for all God's elect in order that God might be just and justifier (Romans 3:24-26) .      FOR WHOM DID HE DIE? " For the ungodly , " not for righteous men, nor religious men, nor deserving men, but for those who are ungodly in nature and practic...

"We are perplexed, but not in despair."   -II Corinthians 4:8 [KJV] God’s dear children have not all the same clear perception of truth. They are not all of one mind and the same sentiment in all points. Yet, they all have but one Lord, one faith, and one hope. And, there is an uniformity in their experience, with respect to the exceeding sinfulness of sin—the depravity of their nature—their perplexities from the world, the flesh, and the devil—their love of the scriptures—and the exceeding preciousness of Christ. This proves that they are taught by and with the same Spirit. We have perplexities of a spiritual nature, beside those in common with others, which natural men are total strangers to. These are no weak evidences of our spiritual birth. To be perplexed with a body of sin and death—with a sense of unbelief—with deadness, formality, wanderings in spiritual duties—with Satan’s temptations, injections, accusations—corrupt reasonings, and carnal pleadings: the feeling all...

"Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God." -Isaiah 58:2 [KJV]   My soul, when thou readest a scripture like this, which, as far as the outward observance of religion goes, seems to carry a fair face, it may be well to consider the wretched delusion under which such men labour. The world, indeed, calls them very good sort of people ; but the Lord speaks most awfully concerning them. Persons of this complexion do not venture to say, that they hope to be found before God without sin: for they will tell you, that they know "we have all sinned and come short of God's glory:" but their faith is, that for their sins they have endeavoured to repent, and made amends; and they hope Christ will make up the deficiency.    They have not been so bad as many others; and in point of doing, they have done...

"Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away." -II Corinthians 3:16 [KJV] The blessed Spirit, as a needful preparation for His own divine instruction, convinces us of our ignorance, of the veil of unbelief that is by nature spread over our heart, and of our utter inability to take it away. So great is this darkness, as a matter of personal inward experience, that like the darkness in Egypt, it may be "felt;" so deep this ignorance that all knowledge or capability of knowledge seems utterly gone; so strong, so desperate this unbelief that it seems as if thoroughly incurable. And yet amidst all this deep and dense cloud of ignorance, darkness and unbelief, rays and beams of light every now and then break through, which, though they seem at the time only to shew the darkness and make it deeper, yet really are a guiding light to the throne of God and the Lamb.    There Jesus sits enthroned in glory, not only as an interceding High Priest...