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

The Wednesday Word None C an Perish There “Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat Where Jesus answers prayer; There humbly fall before His feet, For none can perish there.” -John Newton We can all remember a time when we were sinners. Oh yes, I know we are (present tense) sinners (1 Timothy 1;15) but I’m talking about when we knew we were vile and base and living in despair. And do you remember what happened? Jesus interposed and led us to the cross and assured us that, None can perish there! Then by the Spirit and the Word we were taught precious truths like the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:17-22). We learned that it was made of pure gold and thus a picture of Christ (Exodus 37:6). It pointed us again to Jesus the only sinless one who ever lived. Indeed, None can perish there! God told Moses He would commune with him from above the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:22). It is no wonder then that in John 14:6, Jesus, being the Mercy Seat, said, "I am the way, the t...

In II Peter 1:1, the apostle Peter addresses those he writes to as "them that have obtained like precious faith." We know that faith comes from God and is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). The faith that God gives never stands alone. Faith is only as good as its object. What distinguishes this "precious faith" and makes it precious? The faith of God's elect is precious for this reason: "Unto you therefore which believe HE is precious.." (I Pet. 2:7). Faith in anyone or anything else is worthless! True faith believes God. Like Abraham, we "believe on Him that justifieth the ungodly" and the object of this God-given faith, Christ, is counted for our righteousness before God (Rom. 4:5). Do we get righteousness by faith? Through faith we are brought to realize and see that God in grace has made us righteous by imputing to us the very "righteousness of God" in Christ. The truth is, we don't "obtain" righteo...

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek T hy servant; for I do not forget T hy commandments." -Psalm 119:176 [KJV] If the Lord did not seek us, we should never seek the Lord. That is most certain. If you are one that seeks the Lord in prayer, in supplication, in secret desire, with many a heartrending groan, and often by night and by day, be well assured, that you would never have sought the Lord, had not the Lord first sought you. He is now seeking you. It may be (as you fear), some time before H e finds you; but H e will find you at last. How sweetly the Lord has set this forth in the parable of the lost sheep! The poor sheep has gone astray; and having  once left the fold, it is pretty sure to have got into some strange place or other. It has fallen down a rock, or has rolled into a ditch, or is hidden beneath a bush, or has crept into a cave, or is lying in some deep, distant ravine, where none but an experienced eye and hand can find it out...

“ GOD tells us that His people are ACCEPTED IN CHRIST ( see Ephesians 1:6). If a person is without Christ, then he has nothing that God will accept! God tells us that no man CAN COME unto the Father but by Christ; therefore, if a person is without Christ, he has no ground upon which he can approach God. Christ said, " I am the way, the truth, and the life . " If He is THE WAY, there is no other way; if He is THE TRUTH, everything else is a lie; and if He is THE LIFE, everything apart from Him is death. Those who HAVE CHRIST have His blood for pardon, His righteousness for justification, His fullness for every need, His strength to support us, His promises to cheer us, His grace to keep us, and His power to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” - Gospel report by preacher William Gadsby (1733-1844 A.D.)

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" -Hebrews 12:2 [KJV] My friend, salvation is in "looking unto Jesus." It is not in looking unto baptism, looking unto morality, looking unto church membership, looking unto keeping the commandments, looking unto living by the golden rule, or looking unto coming to church. It is looking unto Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King. It is looking unto Him alone. It is not in looking unto your humility or obedience, but in looking unto Him who "humbled Himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross." It is looking unto His blood and righteousness for cleansing from sin and acceptance with God . It is looking unto Him as God who is almighty to save. It is looking unto Him as Man who lived, suffered, bled, died and aro...

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, W hose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."     -Isaiah 57:15 [KJV] O what a mystery that God should have two dwelling-places! The "heaven of heavens" that "cannot contain Him," and the humble, broken, and contrite heart! But in order that the Lord of heaven might have a place in which He could live and lodge, God gives to His people gifts and graces; for He cannot come and dwell in the carnal mind, in our rebellious nature, in a heart full of enmity and wickedness; He therefore makes a lodging-place for Himself, a pavilion in which the King of glory dwells, the curtains of which are like the curtains of Solomon. His abode is that holy, divine nature which is communicated at regeneration— "the new man, which after God is ...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (05-07OCT18) Heads-Up --- Please find enclosed encouragement in "SO GREAT SALVATION" by the perfect and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ in saving poor, needy and wretched sinners by His sovereign free grace - God's unmerited favor - from their sins and from Hell. "THE ultimate end or goal of redemption is not the happiness, well-being, or even conversion of sinners, but the glory of God (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14). Man's comfort and safety is not the supreme goal of God's glorious gospel. The supreme goal of our gospel is THE GLORY OF GOD, the establishment of His rule and reign over a kingdom of peace and righteousness, the exaltation and manifestation of His character, and the preeminence of His Beloved Son . Our salvation will serve that purpose (Phil. 2:6-11). Everything in covenant mercies, in salvation, and in God's purpose for the sons of men (past, present, and future) turns upon the will o...