"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 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 [II 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 the Son, and ...

The death of Christ is the redemption and salvation of His people. It is not a possibility of redemption and salvation effectual only if we can get sinners to cooperate and believe. It is not even a probability of redemption and salvation because, as one man said, “Odds are, some will believe.” NO! The death of Christ is a guarantee, the assurance, the security of the complete salvation of all whom the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world. Because of His death, they will hear and believe the Gospel of God’s grace in Christ – “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die” [ John 12:32-33 ] . -copied

"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." -Psalm 37:16  [KJV] Hard may be your lot here below, ye suffering saints of the most High, as regards external matters; painful may be the exercises through which you almost daily pass, through the rebellion and desperate wickedness of your carnal mind; grievous temptations may be your continual portion; many a pricking thorn and sharp brier may lie in your path; and so rough and rugged may be the road, that at times you may feel yourself of all men to be the most miserable; and so indeed you would be but for the grace of God in your heart now and the glory prepared for you beyond the grave.   Yet with it all, were your afflictions and sorrows a thousand times heavier, well may it be said of you—"Happy, thrice happy, art thou, O Israel!" Whom upon earth need you envy if you have the grace of God in your heart? With whom would you change, if ever the love of God has visited your soul?...