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

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." -Philippians 2:13 [KJV]   When God has worked in a man "to will," and not only worked in him "to will," but also worked in him "to do;" when He has made him willing to flee from the wrath to come; willing to be saved by the atoning blood and justifying righteousness of Jesus; willing to be saved by sovereign grace as a sinner undone without hope, and glad to be saved in whatever way God is pleased to save him; willing to pass through the fire, to undergo affliction, and to walk in the strait and narrow path, willing to take up the cross and follow Jesus, willing to bear all the troubles which may come upon him, and all the slanders which may be heaped upon his name; when God has made him willing to be nothing, and to have nothing but as God makes him the one, and gives him the other: and besides working in him "to will," has worked in him "...

“And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not   the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.”   -Genesis 20:12 [KJV] Abraham lied both to Pharaoh (Genesis 12) and King Abimelech (Genesis 20) by only telling them half the truth.   Half-truths are the same as lying, especially when they are told to deceive another.   That is the problem with modern-day preaching.   So-called preachers are only telling half the truth, if that!   Modern day religion tells men and women that God is love, but it does not tell them that God is Holy.   False preachers tell men and women that God loves sinners, but they do not tell them that God only loves sinners in Christ .     Half-truths!   They tell sinners that God loves everyone, but they do not tell them that God only loves everyone for whom Christ died.   They tell their listeners that Christ died for everybody, but they do not tell them that Christ only died...

"The righteous is taken away from the evil." -see Isaiah 57:1 [KJV]   Why then do we not rejoice over the dead, who die in the Lord? Why do we, who profess to be in the Lord, fear to die? Death will be the funeral of all our evils, and the resurrection of all our comforts . Why then do we at all dread it? Why so reluctant to be taken from the many evils we suffer here? Why not rather be longing to be for ever with the Lord? Plainly, it is for want of faith. The point is not fully settled between our Saviour and our souls, whether we are His righteous members or not, and hence we do not walk closely and comfortably with Him, and then the fear of death prevails over us. A believer in Jesus, and a righteous person, are convertible terms. Every believer is a living member of Christ, united to, and one with Him. They are righteous as Christ is, as man and Mediator. His very righteousness is theirs. They are clothed with it, and stand perfectly righteous before God in...

"Aaron's rod that budded." -Hebrews 9:4 [KJV]   One view more of the tabernacle, and the articles of furniture therein contained, may be rendered profitable, under the Spirit's teaching: and therefore, my soul, look at that standing miracle, which was preserved there, of the rod of Aaron. The history of it is related in the book of Numbers, chapter 17 . It was the method, which the Lord was graciously pleased to appoint, for the determining on whom His choice rested for the priesthood. To this end, a rod was taken from every tribe, and laid up before the Lord in the tabernacle; the Lord having declared, that whichsoever of the tribes had the rod to blossom, should be the man. The rod of Aaron, on the morrow, had buds, and blossoms, and fruits. But in all these, Christ, in His everlasting priesthood, was typified. To behold a dry stick bring forth buds, and become green and flourishing, was miraculous, and only to be referred into the sovereign power and ...

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." - Philippians 2:12 [KJV]   None but God's people under the teachings of the Spirit know what it is to "work out their own salvation." And all who work out their own salvation will work it out "with fear and trembling." For when a man is taught by God to know what he is; when he feels what a deceitful heart he carries in his bosom; when the various snares, temptations, and corruptions by which he is daily encompassed are opened up to him; when he knows and feels what a ruined wretch he is in self, then he begins to fear and tremble lest he should be damned at the last. He cannot go recklessly and carelessly on without "making straight paths for his feet," without "examining himself whether he be in the faith."     And whenever a man's dreadfully deceitful heart is opened up to him; whenever the hollowness of an empty profession is unmasked; whenever he feels h...

"Then is the offence of the cross ceased."   - Galatians 5:11 [KJV]   Another version reads the words as a question, Is the offence of the cross ceased? No, nor ever will, while there is a Christian upon the earth. The cross is put for that ever-loving Jesus, who hung upon it as a curse for our souls, and an atonement for our sins. O let us be ever jealous of, zealous for, the glory of the cross, for the sake of the Lamb, who finished our salvation upon it. The cross of Christ is the Christian’s glory. The offence the world takes at him, is a proof that he has taken up the cross of Christ, and is following Him. This no man can do faithfully, but he must give offence. Settle this well in your mind. Sit down and count your cost. Are you willing to be Christ’s glory, and the world’s scorn? Do you expect all from the cross? Then give up all for the cross.    Here nature recoils. Flesh and blood rebels. Carnal reason pleads, that worldly prudence may be atte...