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

  A HYMN OF PRAISE TO CHRIST Tune: “Take My Life and Let it Be” 7.7.7.7. Words by Jim Byrd   Sing aloud this hymn of praise, Hallelujahs let us raise; Bless the Lord of earth and skies, Let our praises ever rise, Let our praises ever rise.   View His great creative might, In the morning’s glor’ous light; Study providence and see Proofs of His great sovereignty, Proofs of His great sovereignty.   Yet a greater work appears, What relief to all our fears! God for sinners gave His Son, Jesus, the Anointed One, Jesus, the Anointed One.   Lo He came the lost to save, His own life He freely gave; God was fully satisfied, When Christ Jesus bled and died, When Christ Jesus bled and died.   From His throne Christ reigns on high, By His grace He brings us nigh; He our sin has washed away, Turned our darkness into day, Turned our darkness into day.   So this song of praise we sing, Unto Christ our God and King; We are filled with thankfulness, For the Lord our Ri...

“Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation ( atonement ) for the sins of the people.”   -Hebrews 2:17 [KJV] Those who are blessed to hear and believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ do not embrace or prescribe to a theory of atonement. In the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified we have a glorious atonement for all our sins by His precious blood (I John 4:10) . We don't have an "attemptment" we have an effectual and full atonement for our sin. Here are four things we know about His redeeming sacrifice and High Priestly work. 1). It is particular. The Lord Jesus laid down His life for His covenant people, all those chosen and given to Him in eternity (Matthew 1:21; John 6:37; 10:17; Ephesians 1:3-6) . 2). It is powerful. His blood sacrifice puts away all sins of His elect to the complete satisfaction of the holy law and infinite...

"I will sow her unto Me in the earth, and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy: and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art our God."   - Hosea 2:23 [KJV] Declarations of grace depend not on the will of the flesh for their accomplishment. Sovereign power brings sovereign purposes to effect. Human will can neither forward nor frustrate them. So the Lord raises up and forms a people, for his glory on earth, and the Redeemer’s crown in heaven. See the process of it.    (1st.) “I will sow her.” This alludes to the word Jezrael in the last verse, which signifies the seed of God. God’s people are His own precious seed: He sows them in the earth.    (2d.) “Unto Me.” As they are sown by Him, they spring up unto Him. Though they lie long under the clods of nature’s darkness and corruption, and for a while spring up only to the world, the flesh, and the devil, yet there is a set time to ...

"Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us: He will subdue our iniquities: and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." -Micah 7:18-19 [KJV] My soul! hast thou ever duly and thoroughly pondered over the several interesting volumes of grace recorded in this glorious scripture? If not, make them the subject of this evening's, song. Let every chapter contained in them, pass and re-pass in review before thee, and see whether, in the close of the whole, the astonishment of the man of God is not thine also; crying out, "Who is a God like our God? a God in Christ, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin!" And, first, "He pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression o...

"Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." —I Peter 1:5 [KJV] Those who are kept by the power of God through faith, are often in their minds troubled and anxious, fearing whether this salvation will ever reach their souls,—whether they may not prove castaways,—whether the work upon their heart is genuine,—whether they are under divine teachings. But the Lord says they are "kept by His power through faith unto salvation : "  kept as in this garrisoned city, until salvation shall come in all its glory, sweetness, bliss and blessedness into their heart; preserved and encompassed by all the attributes of God from making shipwreck of faith, until they "receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls." Then poor, doubting, distressed, fearing, guilty sinner, this promise is for thee. Thy soul is bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; thy character and thy name are contained here. And it is a pro...