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

“These are the two covenants” -Galatians 4:24 [KJV]   The God of the Bible, the Living God, is a covenant making, covenant keeping God.  He has made two covenants.  The covenant of works and the covenant of grace, or the old covenant and the new covenant.  The new covenant is actually older than the old covenant because it is eternal, called “The everlasting covenant” in Scripture.   The covenant of works make some aspect of your salvation dependent upon what you do.  There is something you must first do before God can do something for you.  It is God’s response to what you do.  In reality it is God paying you for services rendered.  If you are saved  because of anything you have first done, if works you perform make you more holy and less sinful, if you believe higher rewards in heaven will be meted out to those who have been “better Christians” you are under the covenant of works and under its curse!   Th...

  Rock of Ages, cleft for me,  Let me hide myself in Thee Let the water and the blood,  From Thy wounded side which flowed Be of sin the double cure,  Save from wrath and make me pure.   Not the labor of my hands,  Can fulfill the law’s demands Could my zeal no resting know,  Could my tears forever flow All for sin could not atone;  Thou must save, and Thou alone.   Nothing in my hand I bring,  Simply to the cross I cling Naked, come to Thee for dress;  Helpless look to Thee for grace Foul, I to the fountain fly;  Wash me, Savior, or I die.    While I draw this fleeting breath,  When mine eyes shall close in death When I soar to worlds unknown,  See Thee on Thy judgment Throne Rock of Ages, cleft for me,  Let me hide myself in Thee.

" She said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table ." -Matthew 15:27 [KJV] Here is blessed reasoning. It produced admiration in the Lord: “O woman, great is thy faith!” It obtained a free grace grant from Him also: “Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt.” Great faith! How does it appear? We do not find she came to Christ in full assurance of faith; saying, I know Thou art my Saviour, I am assured Thou hast loved me, and wilt save me. No. Still there was great faith without this. Look at her faith. Imitate it. She honoured the Lord by it. He honours her for it. (1st.) She was in trouble: she flies instantly to Christ. She tells him of her sorrows. “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” To cry to Jesus for mercy, under a sense of being vexed with a devil, is the prayer of faith, and honours the Lord of glory.  (2d.) Here are great discouragements. Christ answers her not a word. The dis...