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

"... Christ's house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end." —Hebrews 3:6 [KJV] The tabernacle, with its furniture—the ark of the covenant— the institution of sacrifices, etc. were appointed by Jehovah, to shew the nature of His house—to typify God's dwelling in the human nature of Jesus—His sacrifice for and special presence with the household of faith. David asks, "Lord, who shall dwell with Thee?" —Psalm 15:1 . The answer is, Only those whose hearts are furnished with the graces of Jesus, and whose lives evidence it.   It bespeaks a person's propriety of and delight of residence in a house, when He adorns and furnishes it. This Jesus doth by the hearts of all His members. He is our brother in flesh. He complies with His own command, When thou lettest a servant go free, "thou shalt furnish him liberally." — Deuteronomy  15:14. Out of the fullness of Jesus, most liberally, His members receive

" The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion." —Proverbs 28:1 [KJV] WATCHFUL and BOLD, is the Christian's motto. Watchful, to avoid sin; bold, to resist the enemies of his soul. For he is engaged in a righteous cause, animated by righteous hopes, made righteous by a righteous Lord; from whom he derives all his strength and courage. "In Jehovah (Jesus) have I righteousness and strength." —Isaiah 45:24 . This is the glorying of his soul. Not his own inherent strength, nor his own personal righteousness, are the cause of his fortitude; but the arm of Jehovah is his shield, and the perfect righteousness of Jesus is his breast-plate of defence against every enemy. Being cleansed from guilt by the blood of Jesus, and clothed with his righteousness, by faith the soul experiences a holy boldness at a throne of grace—appeals against the fury of the enemy and oppressor—and finds supplies of strength in every time of need . This is the lif

" He that believeth on Him is not condemned." —John 3:18 [KJV]   Dost thou believe on the Son of God? is the most important question in the world. Faith in Jesus is the "one thing needful." Without this the day of life is a state of sin and condemnation. The night of death, full of terror; and the day of judgment, most dreadful. It cannot be otherwise. As we are all malefactors, under the sentence of the law, the thoughts of execution must be most alarming. But 'what the eye doth not see, the heart doth not rue.' Sin naturally blinds men's eyes, hardens their hearts; and vain self-righteous hopes deceive their souls into an insensibility of their undone state.   What a special mercy to know one's self! what distinguishing grace to know Jesus! what peculiar favor to know one is delivered from condemnation by Him! This is the joyful privilege of every believer. Though the law condemns him as a transgressor, yet God doth not impute sin, but imputeth r

" Ye have need of patience; that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." —Hebrews 10:36 [KJV]  Are the Christian's exercises great, and his patience small? Yet can he ever be at a loss to know by Whom this grace is increased? Verily the Lord he serveth is "the God of patience." —Romans 15:5 . Hath he need of patience? Hear the Comforter's declaration, by St. Paul: "My God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory." Mind, disciple, this is covenant mercy; therefore, with every other grace it comes through a Mediator: hence it is added, "by Jesus Christ." —Philippians 4:19 . "We do the will of God when we believe on the name of His Son Jesus, and love one another." —I John 3:23 . "And all the promises are in Christ Jesus, yea and amen," sure and certain to every believing soul. "By faith we have the earnest of eternal life." "Having received the first fruits

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (27-29JAN23 A.D.) 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 - Almighty God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: “ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)   “ And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).   Jesus is the one great theme both of the Old and New Testaments. The whole Bible is designed to testify of Him (John 5:39). In Christ the Messiah, Jesus the Savior, the Son of God, the Redeemer, all truths of the

" And Jesus said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father, which art in heaven ..." —Luke 11:2 [KJV]  Faith in the heart excites prayer from the lips. So the faith of God's elect manifests itself. It cometh from the Lord the Spirit. By it the soul is led to Jesus the mediator; and by Him to God the Father. So each person in the Godhead is known, worshipped, and glorified by believing souls. While we see and feel nothing of our misery and wants, no marvel prayer is an irksome task. From a sight of ourselves, and the knowledge of Jesus, we come to Him daily with simplicity of heart, Master, teach us to pray! It is the highest honor, the sweetest privilege, the most blessed exercise of the soul to draw nigh to God. What greater on earth than to come to the throne of the King of kings? And that fear and shame may not beset and keep us back, knowing our vile nature and sinful practice, hear our Lord and Saviour's encouraging direction, "When ye pray, say, Our Father

  "... Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." —I Timothy 2:6 [KJV]    The gospel is quite sufficient to answer every objection, and to silence every cavil against salvation by Christ. This sacred oracle we are to consult day after day. Do we ask, Why are any sinners saved? It assures us God hath loved them; this is the cause. If we enquire how God doth save them? It tells us, It is in a way of strict justice, consistent with the honor of God's law, the perfection of His righteousness, holiness, and truth. Therefore redemption is, by stipulated price, the blood of the covenant, the precious blood of Christ as a Lamb without spot. Do we seek to know who are the redeemed of the Lord? Jesus assures us "He gave His life a ransom for many." — Matthew 20:28 —even for ALL whom the Father hath given Him.   The word of God mentions no one in particular; but sets forth salvation in general and extensive terms—it is exactly suited to the most vi

" Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." —Luke 14:33 [KJV]   "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again," saith Christ, —John 3:7 . The blessed effects of this spiritual birth will be evident in the life. Earthly objects will be forsaken: heavenly ones prized. Jesus will be chosen as our beloved Master and only hope. He being esteemed our treasure, our hearts will be with Him, our affections towards Him; and it will be our chiefest delight to hear His voice, and to follow Him in the regeneration. Coming to Christ, is turning our backs upon the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." By the faith of Jesus we renounce and forsake all these things as our curse and shame. The clearer views we have of Christ's glory, and the stronger our faith is in Him, so much the more we become dead to all things beside Him. Thus it is manifest who are the disciples of Jesus. Their

More than Forgiveness ! Let's get this straight, God, because He is righteous, holy and just, hates sin!  Sin is a direct assault on Him and, as such, has earned His wrath, fury and severe displeasure.   Sin is the real obstacle between God and man. We, in our flesh, have an inbuilt hardness and hatred towards God. We are sinners.  We deserve damnation.  But God, in grace, punished our sins in the person of our substitute Jesus Christ and forgave us.  This is good news.  Our sins were punished, and we were forgiven.   “But, how is this possible?” you ask, “If He didn’t just forgive our sins what did He do with them?” Here’s the answer. He purged them and put them away (Hebrews 9:26) . In grace, love and mercy we were given the gift of the Sin-Bearer, Jesus the Christ.  He laid down His life for us. He took our place, becoming a curse instead of us. Our sins were laid on Him. He became our substitute and died instead of us.   The gospel truth is this; God does not, strictly speaking

" Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth." —John 17:17 [KJV]  Thus prayed our great High Priest on earth. What He asked in His humiliation, is founded upon the word and will of His Father; and He hath power to effect in His exaltation. Hence we have the fullest assurance of the perfect sanctification of all His members. Hence the desires and breathings of souls after holiness are encouraged; and the prayers of the faithful gather the strongest confidence of success.   While our Beloved expresses His affectionate concern for His people's salvation, we see an equal regard for the honor and glory of His Father's word. Love for holiness, and love of the truth are inseparable. As the gospel prevails in the heart, holiness is increased. It is first life, then liveliness in the soul: it is the ministration of the Spirit in the sanctification of the spirit. Whatever working we find of the Spirit in the heart, it is by the word of truth. The life of believers is fr

" O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." —Psalm 42:6 [KJV]    In times of dejection and distress, the thoughts of a dear friend, who has comforted us in times past, tend to alleviate the mind. If we are assured of his love to us, we question not his readiness to assist us. So under the affecting loss of a dear brother, Martha addresses the Saviour, "Lord, if Thou hadst been there, my brother had not died." —John 11:21 .   Inexpressible blessedness, to live in a holy familiarity with the God of love! How simple are David's words! how freely doth he pour out his complaints, and tell God of his sorrows! though his soul was bowed down within him, heaviness of mind beset him, the sweet sunshine of joy was overcast by the dark cloud of sorrow, yet faith's piercing eye looks through all. Regardless of his own frames and feelings, he has direct recourse to God.  

" For His anger endureth but a moment: in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." —Psalm 30:5 [KJV]    Verily here is a glorious assemblage of comforting truths like a reviving cordial of rich compounds to enliven drooping spirits. Too, too often do God's children judge of their Father's love, from corrupt ideas. Through the carnality of their natures, the depravity of their judgment, the weakness of their faith, the uncertainty of their frames and feelings, and the artful insinuations of Satan, their loving Father is considered as an implacable being, full of wrath and anger against them. But this is contrary to God's revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus as a God of love. So also is it injurious and hurtful to the souls of the faithful; for it damps their love, distresses their spirits, deadens the exercise of their graces, and hinders their increase in holiness; the essence of which is founded in the love of God. Ther

" Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." —Hebrews 13:13 [KJV]  The profession of Jesus is easy to nature. There is nothing irksome to the flesh in being called a Christian. But to know Jesus in heart, to confess Him with the tongue, and to follow Him in our life, will ever expose us to reproach and contempt. But if, with Philip, we have really found that blessed HIM of whom Moses and the prophets wrote, we must, we shall speak of Him to others. We shall esteem Jesus our beloved as our richest treasure. Our hearts and affections will be going out after Him. Moses' choice will be ours: "We shall esteem the reproaches of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." But fleshly wisdom is contrary to all this. That ever prompts, 'Save thyself—take care of thy good name—fear, lest that be cast out as evil—beware of thy character—go not too far, thou wilt sustain damage. In the camp of this world, riches, pleasures, and honors are

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (20-22JAN23 A.D.) 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 - Almighty God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOUR! Believer, what a Saviour God has provided for His people (Gen esis 22:8; Matt hew 1:21)! The Almighty God (John 1:1), yet all tender Saviour and Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us (John 10:11; Psa lm 23:1). How well-fitted Jesus Christ is to be our Great High Priest (Heb rews 2:17; 4:14-16). How sufficient is He to supply our every need according to His riches in glory (Col ossians 2:9-10; Phil ippians 4:19). How complete His wisdom and grace to provide for us perfect atonement and full justification from all our sin (Heb rews 9:12; Rom ans 3:24). How gracious the Lord is to impute His righteous

" If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed." — John 8:31 [KJV]  As mutual love subsists between Jesus and His believing members, so there is a mutual choice of each other. Hence, saith the church, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." —Songs of Solomon 6:3 . So also there is a mutual inhabitation; every believer dwells in Christ, and Christ in him. This matter is only comfortably experienced by continuing in the truth. For "whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." —II John 9 . Many profess to be disciples of Jesus in name. But what profit is this? If souls have not been sick of sin, alas, Jesus will be a physician of no value to them. If souls have not seen themselves lost, their state accursed, and their case hopeless and desperate, so that none but Jesus can restore and save them, they will but lightly es