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

7 Gospel Mercies. Part 3 by D. G. Miles McKee   Over these last few weeks, we have been considering a few of the mercies we receive as believers.  We continue today with, 4) A New Heart.   This is what the theologians call regeneration.   Regeneration is neither a process nor an improving of the old nature. In the Old Testament, the Lord prophesied through Ezekiel, “A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). God invades us by His Holy Spirit and makes us spiritually alive. What a wonderful work the Spirit does within us. Not only does He generate new life, He continues to work within every believer both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). He will cause us to know His will, to love it and to do it! He puts His laws into our hearts and writes them in our minds (Hebrews 10:18). All of this is a wonderful ‘Gospel Mercy’.   As followers of the Lamb, we neither have to work up a feeling of spirituality nor need

" All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." —I Corinthians 6:12 [KJV] The constraints of love and jealousy of fear sweetly unite in the believing heart. Where the faith of Jesus prevails, love constrains. It holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are kept together under a banner or ensign displayed. What cheerfulness and activity of soul do we experience, when we can say with the church in the Canticles (Songs of Solomon), ch. 2, vs4. "Jesus' banner over me was love!" Then how sweetly do we judge and determine our conduct by the law of Christ, which is LOVE!  This excites a godly fear lest we should allow ourselves a latitude in things in themselves indifferent, to the wounding and hurt of our souls or our fellow-soldiers. Though all things of an indifferent nature, which are innocent in themselves, are lawful to us; yet the cause and interest of our dear Saviour, and the good and edifying of His beloved memb