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

"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance; but as H e which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." - I Peter 1:14-16 [KJV] Grace lays us under the greatest of all obligations to its free and bountiful Giver, and especially to render a believing obedience to His revealed will and word. It is His free, sovereign, and distinguishing grace alone which makes and manifests us to be His children, and therefore it demands of us, as a feeble and most insufficient tribute of grateful praise, that we should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, and glorify Him in our body and spirit which are His. He that has never known and felt this knows nothing of the riches of God's grace in the manifestation of mercy and love to his soul.   Such a one knows, that do what he can, he can never do enough to show forth the praises of Him who ...

"Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified." -Matthew 27:26 [KJV] God has ordered by His marvelous providence a vivid picture of every believer's Substitute. Barabbas was rightly charged, convicted and sentenced to be executed. He was found guilty of murder, robbery and sedition against Rome. When the executioner came to release him, he was told Jesus had taken his scourging and crucifixion and that he could go free. Barabbas is a type and picture of sinners for whom Christ Jesus died (1 Timothy 1:15) . We stand guilty before the law of God (Romans 3:19-20) . We were justly convicted of great offences against God (Psalm 51:4) . We were waiting the execution by God's holy law (Romans 6:23) . However, by the order of Almighty God, Jesus Christ was sent to rescue, redeem and release sinners (Matthew 9:13; Luke 4:18) .   Believers no more merit release and rescue than Barabbas did (Ephesians 2:1-4) . But God in ...