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

"Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure."   -II Peter 1:10 [KJV]   Work for life , say the sons of ignorance and pride. Work not at all, Christ has left us nothing to do , say the sons of sloth and licentiousness. But, say the sons of wisdom, We labour and give diligence in the ways of God, not in order to obtain life; not to be saved for what we do; but to enjoy more of the life of Christ, the love of God, and the assurance of His Spirit, that we are His children . To this Peter exhorts. Brethren! Ye who profess to believe in the Son of God, and long to know assuredly that ye are the children of God, “Give diligence.”     Do not rest in a few idle wishes, cold desires, and formal duties, but be earnest—be active—be upon the stretch for God. As we say, leave no stone unturned. Study the Lord’s word of grace—dwell upon the rich promises of His love—meditate upon the finished salvation of Christ—confer with His people— be fervent i...

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience, by the things which He suffered." -Hebrews 5:8 [KJV]   My soul! behold what a precious verse of scripture is here! How blessedly doth it set forth thy Redeemer! See here what an example Jesus shews to all His people, and how sweetly accommodating is that example to every case and circumstance, into which any of them can be brought! Surely, if any might have done without going into such a school of suffering, for the purpose of learning, it must have been Jesus; but yet even Jesus would not. And wouldest thou, my soul, after such an illustrious pattern, desire to be excused? Hath not Jesus dignified it, and made it blessed? Oh! the honour of following His steps.    There is another beauty in this scripture. The apostle, in a verse or two preceding, took notice of Jesus in His human nature, that He sought not, as such, the high priest's office uncalled. "Christ (saith he) glorified not Himself, to be made a...

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." -Acts 14:22 [KJV]   What are the promises? Are not all the promises suited to the Lord's poor and needy family? What are the promises of pardon, except to the guilty? What are promises of salvation, except to the lost? What are promises of consolation, except to the afflicted? What are promises of grace, except to those who feel themselves altogether undone? Thus it is "through much tribulation" we enter into the sweetness of the promises. Then they come with power into the heart; they are manifested with life and feeling to the soul; and we begin, like Jeremiah of old, to "find God's word and eat it;" and feel it to be the very joy and rejoicing of our heart.    This is the effect of passing through tribulation in providence and in grace,—of cutting trials; of severe, harassing temptations; of frowns from the world; of blows from sinners and saints; of learning the w...

“…and lose his own soul.”   -Mark 8:36 [KJV] No man can describe the loss of the soul as he should.   No man can paint this dreadful picture in its true colors.   You and I will never fully understand what it means to lose one’s soul until we pass through the valley of death and wake up in eternity.   Then, and not until then, shall we know the value of the soul.   The value of things will change greatly in that day.   The hour   is coming when money, bank notes, and bonds will be worth no more than waste paper.   The day is coming when our diamonds, silver, and gold, will be as dust in the streets.     The day will dawn when houses and lands will be as worthless as a child’s worn out toys.   In that day the fame, honor, and glory of this world will be worth no more than faded flowers and withered grass.   In that day, a man will be willing to trade all he knows and can imagine, for the privilege of hearing one Gospel sermo...

       The Pharisees constantly sought to catch Christ in His words.   They did not listen to learn; they listened to criticize.   We must guard against such a spirit - a spirit that is always looking for a fault, always waiting for a preacher to misspeak.   Faithful Gospel preachers are sinners saved by the grace of God. They are subject to the same weaknesses and infirmities of the flesh as those to whom they preach.   While they are called to proclaim God’s Truth, they are but sinners saved by grace.     Therefore, when we sit under the preaching of God’s Word, let us listen to be fed, encouraged, and instructed.   Let us listen to hear Christ exalted rather than searching for a fault.   We should be careful not to make a preacher “an offender for a word ” by focusing on a misplaced phrase while missing the message of Christ.   A critical spirit robs a person of the joy and profit that come from hearing the Word of G...

 Christ is the mystery of the Scripture - grace the mystery of Christ.   BELIEVING is the most wonderful thing in the world.   Put anything of your own to it, and you spoil it.   Christ will not so much as look at it for BELIEVING.   When you believe and come to Christ, you must leave behind your own righteousness and bring nothing but your sin ( Oh, that is hard!) ; leave behind all your holiness, sanctification, duties, humblings, etc.; and bring nothing but your wants and miseries, or else Christ is not fit for you, nor you for Christ.     Christ will be a pure Redeemer and Mediator, and you must be an undone sinner, or Christ and you will never agree.   It is the hardest thing in the world to take Christ alone for righteousness; that is to acknowledge Him Christ.   Join any thing to Him of your own, and you un-Christ Him.   Whatever comes in when you go   to God for acceptance, besides Christ, call it anti-Christ; bid it be...