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

"Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" -L AMENTATIONS 3:39 [KJV] We must not understand by the word "punishment," anything of a vindictive nature. God never punishes the sins of His elect penally; that is, not as He punishes the sins of the reprobate. The eternal covenant forbids this. "Fury is not in Me” saith the Lord. The elect are accepted in Jesus, are pardoned in Him, are complete in Him. This is their eternal and unalterable covenant standing—the fruit and effect of their everlasting union with the Son of God. But though this forbids punishment in its strictly penal sense, it by no means excludes chastisement. Thus we are not to understand by the word "punishment" in the text the infliction of God's righteous wrath, that foretaste of eternal damnation with which, sometimes even in this life, He visits the ungodly; but it signifies that chastisement which is the privilege of the heir, and

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands ( 04-06OCT 19) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in SO GREAT SALVATION by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from their sins and from Hell: "For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee." -P SALM 86:5 [KJV] It is delightful to speak about the mercy of God, but forgiveness and salvation do not come to sinners by mercy alone without consideration for the legal requirements of God. "The soul that sinneth shall die." The righteous Judge cannot clear the guilty apart from satisfaction for sin. The sweet mercy of the Lord will never be exercised at the expense of His justice. His violated law demands death for all transgressions. God cannot be at peace with sinful men in a way that is dishonoring to His truth