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

Before the foundation of the world, God chose a people in Christ and purposed to be gracious to them ( II Thessalonians 2:13) . Those ordained to salvation were "predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ" (Romans 8:29) . Here is the question I want you to consider: W hat will God sacrifice in order to save the objects of His love from their sins? What was He willing to surrender so that a multitude of rebels would be justified in His sight? I will first tell you what He did not sacrifice. He did not part with His holy character by compromising His justice because " the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) . He did not give up His honor by lessening the standard for acceptance: "it shall be perfect to be accepted" (Leviticus 22:21) . And, He did not abandon His Law which says, "the soul that sinneth shall die" (Ezekiel 18:20) . I will tell you the sacrifice God gave to save His people from their sins - His own Son...

"His left hand is under my head, and H is right hand doth embrace me." -Song of Solomon 2:6 [KJV] Our salvation in Christ is sure, safe and certain as the powerful hands of God (Dan. 4:35; John 10:27-30) . Believer, you are in good hands with Christ, being made one with Him (John 17:22) . His hands are sovereign hands able to save. "Wherefore H e is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by H im, seeing H e ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25) . His hands are strong hands able to keep us from falling. "Now unto H im that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of H is glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24) . His hands are tender hands able to teach us the way of salvation. "Come unto M e, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take M y yoke upon you, and learn of M e; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find res...

“ Behold, thou art fair, My love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead .” -Song of Solomon 4:1 [KJV] There is no spot in the Church, because the blood of Jesus entirely obliterates each stain. Omniscience may look for sins, but no more can they be found. The absence of defect is the result of her being adorned with His perfect righteousness. In this no blemish can exist. Thus she appears righteous, even as God is righteous. This blessed truth must be held fast without obliterating the knowledge of our own constant and innumerable transgressions. It cannot be too often repeated, that in ourselves we are deformed and loathsome. The most saintly of saints will ever breathe the prayer, “ God be merciful to me a sinner .” But Jesus says of His people, “ You are all beautiful, My love; there is no spot in you .” -Gospel report by preacher Henry Law (1797–1884 A.D.)

"The eternal God is thy refuge." -Deuteronomy 33:27 [KJV]   Who is this eternal God? He is the great and glorious Jehovah, eternal in His Trinity of Persons and in the Unity of His Essence. And what a depth of blessedness there is in this God being an eternal God; and that in and of this eternity, each Person of the Godhead has an equal share. Look at the love of the eternal God. How eternal was that—not a thing of time, not fixed upon us when first brought into being, not issuing out of His bosom first when we were quickened into divine life; but a love from all eternity, as being the love of an eternal God. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jeremiah 31:3) . And how eternal are the thoughts of God; those thoughts which were of good, not of evil. They were eternal thoughts of peace to the Church; eternal thoughts of mercy to His beloved family; eternal thoughts of manifesting His grace...

Our Lord said to the Jewish leaders of His day, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of M e. And YE WILL NOT come to M e that ye might have life” (John 5:39-40) . “No man can come to M e, except the Father which hath sent M e draw him : and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44) . It is a well-known fact that many are quick to defend the freedom of man’s will, but our Lord, in these few words, forevermore dashed that heresy to pieces. The Word of God is clear that no man has the natural willingness or ability to come to God and be content to be saved by grace alone through the bloody sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Rather than man’s will being free, it is enslaved. The will is in bondage to our sinful nature. Instead of speaking of the freedom of the will, it would be more accurate to say that man’s will is imprisoned to sin and Satan (John 8:34) . The sinner, therefore, if uninfluenced by e...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (29-31MAR19) 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 preacher of the gospel has nothing in common with the politicians or the entertainers of this world. We are not merely presenting our views and we are not religious clowns. We come before you having been commissioned by the King, with the message of the King, that originated with the King and is all about the King. Bow down proud sinner and worship Christ the crucified, buried, risen and ascended Lord. I am not here to amuse you, but to magnify Christ, to warn you of judgment to come and tell you that the only hope you have of a blissful eternity is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. B ELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE...

"For by one offering H e hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." -Hebrews 10:14 [KJV]   To be "sanctified" is to be made a partaker of that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; to be made a new creature; to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness;" in a word, to be "made a partaker of the divine nature," and thus have the holiness of God breathed into and communicated to the soul. Without this inward sanctification, none can enter the gates of heaven. To be made meet, therefore, for the heavenly inheritance, you must have a heavenly heart and a praising, adoring, loving spirit; you must delight yourself in the Lord as being so holy and yet so gracious, so pure and yet so loving, so bright and glorious and yet so condescending and sympathising. Now this meetness for the holiness, happiness, and employments of heaven is communicated at regeneration, in which the ne...