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

“By the grace of God, I am what I am.”   -I Corinthians 15:10 [KJV] I am not one of God's elect because of something good God saw in me. There never was, is not now, and never will be any good in our flesh. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." Paul said he knew it. The problem with most religious folks is that they don't know it, and until they do, they will continue to brag and boast of what they have done for God. I am not one of God's elect because of something God saw I would do. Left to my own will, I would have continued in darkness and even now would depart from God. I am not one of God's elect because God needed me. It bothers me when we leave the impression with anyone that God or the church of the Lord Jesus can profit in any way from our presence, influence or gifts. When will we ever learn that we are receivers and beggars? There is not one ounce of goodness in any son of Adam that could be used to comm...

The conflict between the two natures may be compared to a ship, on which a new Captain has been put on board by the owners. The old Captain has so long held command, and his enmity to the owners is so great, that he has practically treated the vessel as his own; and kept the crew in perfect bondage. The crew have submitted to it, never having known any other authority; or understood what real liberty of service was. From time to time they have heard of it; they have passed other vessels which they saw at once were very different from their own.  But, now that the new Captain is in authority they begin to find out what the difference is. The new Captain, henceforth always has control of the helm and the charge of the ship. The ship is the same, the crew is the same. Even the old Captain remains on board. The book of instructions which the new Captain has brought on board tells that the old Captain has been judged and condemned: but the sentence cannot be executed excep...

"When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do ." -Luke 17:10 [KJV] This is a fatal stab to human merit: this is a deadly blow to sinless perfection. O! flee from the idea of any merit in thee or thy works, as from the face of the devil: it is of the pride of Satan. Avoid the thought of being perfect in thyself, as thou wouldest the most damnable lie: it ariseth from self-deceit, and is established through ignorance of God’s holy law. Our dear Lord here instructs us to be active, yet humble, to be obedient, yet self-abased; to do all things, yet own our unprofitableness after all. Beware you do not learn to decry that word, duty. It is very common for many so to do, as implying nothing but what is legal. Thy Lord here uses it. Be not wiser than thy Master. True, thou art freed from all slavish duty and legal bondage, in order to be justified and saved thereby. But...

" And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses,  I AM, THAT I AM . And He said,  Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."   - Exodus 3:13, 14 [KJV] My soul, hast thou fully considered, so as to rest in the full assurance of faith upon it, on what the whole foundation of covenant promises and engagements rest? It is not the greatness of the promise, no, nor the greatness of the deliverance wrought out for poor sinners, by the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, on which faith founds its claim; for, in fact, the more astonishing, and great, and unexpected the mercy is, as in the case of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, the more difficult would it be for a poor self- condemned sinner to trust in it, with full a...

"The LORD loveth the gates of Zion."   -Psalm 87:2 [KJV] What are gates for? Two purposes, entrance and exit. And Zion, too, has her gates of exit and entrance; she has her gates of access to God, entrance into the presence of the Most High; "the door of hope,"  opened in "the valley of Achor."  And who has opened the door; or, rather, who has not only opened it and made it, but Himself is the Door? "I am the Door , "   says Jesus. And was not "the door"  opened through His rent flesh? As the apostle speaks: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh" (Hebrews 10:19-20.) Through His bleeding wounds, through His pierced side, through His mangled feet and hands, there is now access to God: "A door of hope is open'd wide In Jesus' pierced hands and side."  Is...