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

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 prayed in John 17. They are “ His sheep.” The Father gave them to Him, and HE DIED FOR THEM [JOHN 10:15, 29 ] . Substitution is 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 [II TIMOTHY 2:25; E PHESIANS 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 ye are not of My sheep” [JOHN 10:26 ] . If they had been His sheep they would have believed. The “ good news” is that all whom the Father has given to the Son, and for whom He died, wil...

"They shall mount up with wings as eagles." -I SAIAH 40:31 [KJV] It is said of the eagle, that he mounts up towards the sun; and that of all birds, he is the only one which can gaze upon the sun with unshrinking eye. So with faith in the soul. The Lord's people alone can look by faith upon the "Sun of righteousness," gaze upon a glorious Immanuel at the right hand of the Father, and see a precious Jesus ever interceding for them, and drawing them near to His bosom. And when this blessed Jesus communicates a measure of His love and blood to their consciences, and raises up and draws forth faith in His name, then the soul begins to mount up with these wings like eagles, soaring higher and higher, till it comes into the presence of God; mounting up in higher and higher circles of spiritual flight, till it penetrates into the very sanctuary of Jehovah. Now, has not your soul thus soared sometimes as upon eagle's wings? Have there not been those co...