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

  ​      ‘The Christian’s victory over sin cannot be achieved by the strength of his resolutions, nor by the plainness and force of moral motives, nor by any resources in himself. He looks to Jesus Christ, and conquers in His strength.  In other words, the victory is not obtained in the way of nature, but of grace, [see Romans 7:14-25, KJV] .’   -Excerpt from An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Charles Hodge, p.246, Robert Carver & Bros. Publishers [1859 A.D.]

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe ” - I Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV]   God works by and with His Word to the salvation of sinners (Psalm 19:7-8; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23-25) . When the gospel comes to the heart of the sinner with the Almighty hands of God it will effectually accomplish His sovereign purpose in our soul (Isaiah 55:11; I Thessalonians 1:4-5) . Notice carefully what the Word teaches us.     1).  Quickening of dead sinners to life in Christ Jesus. “ Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18; Ephesians 2:1) .     2).  Enlightening of the darkened and depraved mind. “ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our he...

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”   -I Timothy 1:15 [KJV]   Several years ago, my dear friend, Don Bell, preached a message from the above text that, to this day, I have not forgotten.  His two points were very simple: I am a great sinner, and Jesus Christ is a great Savior .  Brother Don made the point that these are two things we learn over and over in our Christian life – we never get past them.   I asked Brother Scott Richardson, not long before he died, if things had gotten easier as he had gotten older.  Did his struggle with self and sin get easier, etc.  He said, “Not with me it hasn’t.” Scott was still learning what Brother Don Bell had preached in that message – “I am a great sinner.”   Scott told us all something else, “As I am convinced that I am a sinner, it gives me more reason to look to the One who is the Savior of si...

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”   (Isaiah 64:6). Isaiah bemoaned the fact that; " Even our righteous­nesses are filthy rags " (Isaiah 64:6) . George Whitefield said, "A man hasn't truly repented until he can repent even of his best deeds, which are all imperfect." Bishop Beveridge wrote: "Because of the evil root in our hearts, there is evil fruit in our nature. The root poisons even our so-called righteousness. We cannot pray without sin; we do not hear nor preach a sermon without sin; we do not give alms without sin; we cannot even confess our sins but that our very con­fession is an aggravation of sin.”     Our repentance needs to be repented of, and our tears need to be washed in His blood. Not only the worst behavior, but OFTEN THE BEST DUTIES of our lives prove us to be sons of Adam. Oh, the exceeding ...

The decree of election stands upon an unchangeable Foundation, to wit, that Rock of Ages, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8.) As the first Adam was the foundation stone in the decree of creation, so the last Adam, even Jesus, is the foundation stone in the decree of  election. God hath blessed us in Him, yea and we shall be blessed; He hath chosen us in Him; pardoned us in Him; sealed us in Him; built us up and completed us in Him: “According to His own purpose and grace,  which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9.)   All those acts of grace are said to be in Christ: “hath blessed us in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3); “chosen us in Him” (Ephesians 1:4); “in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7); “in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed” (Ephesians 1:13); “rooted and built up in Him” (Colossians 2:7.)   “and we are complete in Him” (Co...

In describing his confidence in Christ, Paul wrote, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death , ” (Philippians 3:10) .  The power of Christ’s resurrection is His power to save and bring to glory all sinners for whom He has forever stood Surety, all for whom He died and arose again, and all for whom He now sits at the right had of the Father as their Intercessor and Advocate. His resurrection was because of their justification by God’s grace, and those who are justified in Him (cleansed from all sins by His blood and declared righteous by His merits imputed) cannot be forever lost and condemned (Romans 4:25) .  Those who preach that multitudes for whom Christ died and arose will die in their sins and perish because they did not do their part deny the power both of His death and resurrection. But Christ is the sure Savior of His sheep, and He will bring them to glory in the final resurrec...

Paul the apostle speaks of “The grace of God that brings salvation” (Titus 2:11).      This is indeed a glorious picture! God’s grace is here portrayed as a vehicle – His chariot . In it is the salvation He is delivering to His people. This salvation is both a person and a blessing.    First, the salvation in this chariot of grace is a person . He is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jehovah in Old Testament times called Jesus “ My salvation” whom He would send to His people (Isaiah 49:6; 56:1) . When Jesus came, Simeon called Him “ Jehovah’s salvation” (Luke 2:30) , for He is the very embodiment of the salvation Jehovah ordained for His people. Every saint knows Jesus as “My Salvation” (Psalm 27:1) , for Jesus is not only our Savior but also the salvation wrought by the Savior.     Second, the salvation in this chariot of grace is a blessing . And this blessing of salvation is in the hands of Him who is our salvation. It is God’s sal...

"Ye are called in one hope of your calling." -Ephesians 4:4 [KJV] What a glorious day was that to Saul, when the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, I am Jesus, your Saviour!  Says one, “O that I were as sure that Christ hath called me, as He did St. Paul! Then, how happy should I be!”  Verily, thou mayest be happy: thou mayest be as sure, thou art as effectually called as the apostle was. Thy concern of mind about it is a clear evidence, and full proof of it. While in a state of natural ignorance and unbelief, had St. Paul a single wish, or desire, to be called by Christ? Nor wouldst thou, if He had not first called thee by the grace of His word, and the power of His Spirit. Therefore, doubt not of, but rejoice in the hope of thy calling. Love Christ for calling thee. Give Him the glory of it. Ye are called. The effects prove it. Ye who were dead in sin, without hope in Christ, have ears to hear the word of Christ, eyes to see the glory of Christ, a heart ...

"For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." -Jeremiah 29:11 [KJV] My soul! thou art "looking for the mercy of thy Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."  This is thy one object, and that one object is centered in Jesus. But in the view of this, thou art sadly put to it, at times, by thwarting providences, that seem to come between It would be a blessed help to thee, hadst thou grace always to keep in remembrance what the Lord saith in this blessed scripture: "I know the thoughts that I think towards you; thoughts of peace, and not of evil." And how truly fulfilled are these things in the redemption by Jesus! In Him the foundation is laid for the accomplishment; and "He is of one mind, and who can turn Him?"  Be the outward appearances of things what they may, yet the Lord is everlastingly pursuing one and the same invariable plan of mercy. His p...

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me." -Psalm 40:17 [KJV] Are there not solemn seasons in your soul, when you think upon the Lord? When you lie awake, perhaps at midnight, thinking upon God, upon His truth, His love, His word, His dealings with your soul, and your desires, prayers, and breathings all flow forth to His sacred Majesty—is not this some evidence that you are thinking upon His name? And be assured that if you think upon Him, He has thought upon you. Look at the giddy multitude. Do they think upon God? Is Jesus ever felt to be precious to their souls? Do they pant after Him as the hart after the water brooks? No; their language is, "There is no God."  It is not their spoken language, but it is their inward language. But through mercy you can say, that you think upon God; and thus there is some evidence, though you cannot rise up to the assurance of it, that He thinketh upon you. And if He thinks upon you, His thoughts are...