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

“ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.” -Psalm 28:7 [KJV] ============================================= A debtor to mercy alone, of covenant mercy I sing; Nor fear with Thy righteousness on, my person and offering to bring; The terrors of law and of God, with me can have nothing to do; My Savior’s obedience and blood, hide all my transgressions from view. The work which His goodness began, the arm of His strength will complete; His promise is yea and amen, and never was forfeited yet; Things future nor things that are now, not all things below nor above, Can make Him His purpose forego, or sever my soul from His love. My name from the palms of His hands, eternity will not erase; Impressed on His heart it remains, in marks of indelible grace. Yes, I to the end shall endure, as sure as the Earnest is given; More happy, but not more sec...

The "good news" of the gospel is that there is a Substitute Who has stood in the place of every repentant sinner and bore the wrath of God in His place. He did this for all whom the Father had given Him from all eternity. It is for them that He prays in John 17. They are "His Sheep." The Father gave them to Him; and He died for them (John 10:15, 29). Substitution is at the very heart of the gospel. Christ did not simply give His life to make salvation possible for those who contribute their part to what He has done by repenting and trusting Christ. He it is that gives repentance and faith (2 Timothy 2:25; Ephesians 2:8). Christ did not say to the religious Jews of His day that they were not of His "sheep" because they did not believe; rather, He says, "Ye believe not because you are not of My sheep." If they had been His sheep, they would have believed. The "good news" is that all whom the Father has given to t...