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

When God describes Himself in Isaiah, He declares and identifies Himself as a “ just God and a Saviour” [ISAIAH 45:21 - Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me ] . Since this is true, it must be important to God that we see His justice in the salvation of sinners. Every aspect of God’s salvation of sinners in Christ is glorious but none more glorious than this: God is just, righteous, and unchangeably so, even as He saves His people from their sins . Therefore, to rest in His grace is to rest in His justice because it is that grace that reigns through righteousness [ROMANS 5:21 ] . God satisfied His strict justice in the matter of the sins of His elect by paying Himself what His justice required. In other words, God in flesh satisfied His own just Self...

"An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away." - I PETER 1:4 [KJV]   Whatever you may have in this world, be it much or little, you must leave. And if you have no other inheritance than earth gives, where will be your portion in death and to all eternity? But if you are begotten again unto a lively hope, even if you do not enjoy the full assurance of faith, you have before you an inheritance which fadeth not away. We fancy sometimes how happy we should be if we had this man's fine estate, or that man's large property; how much better we should spend it than he does, and what good we should do with it. And do you think that these men are happy with all their possessions, and that you would be happier or better if you had them? It is not in nature to be happy. These rich men have a canker which eats up all their happiness. And even if free from the heavier troubles of life, all satisfaction of the flesh fadeth away, fo...

Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (13-15MAR20) 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 our sins and from Hell: LIVE UNTO CHRIST This natural body is a dying body, subject to afflictions, diseases, infirmities, and eventually DEATH! But if the Spirit of God dwells in us (by grace through faith), death is not the end; for He that raised Christ from the dead shall also, in His appointed time, raise our bodies from the grave (1 Cor. 15:12-22; 42-44). This body shall not always be in corruption and ruin but shall be raised in the image of Christ (1 John 3:1-3). Therefore, since our primary interest is not the flesh, materialism, and things of the world, but the kingdom of God and His righteousness – since to be fleshly minded is a sign of absence of the Spirit of Christ...

At the center of man-made religion is man’s choice. They say such things as “God’s done all He can do, He’s made salvation available, now it’s up to you, it’s your choice.” They often use Joshua’s words to the Israelites, “ Choose you this day whom you will serve..” (Joshua 24:15). But Joshua spoke those words to that earthly nation of people under a legal covenant which was based on “do this and live, don’t do it and die.” Their choices time and time again showed that man can never be saved based on his choices because by nature he always chooses evil. Left to himself he will always make the wrong choice! He will never choose God and His way of salvation. The salvation of God however, is based on His choice. As a matter of fact, Israel as a nation was His earthly people only because of His choice. “ The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people” (Deuteronomy 7:7). They were a...

“ I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” -H ABAKKUK 3:18 [KJV] If ever, as we pass through this wilderness, we feel one drop of solid joy, of true happiness, it must flow, it can flow only from one source the manifestation of Christ to our souls. This joy may be very transient: we may have to look upon it through a vista of many years; and doubts and fears may becloud the mind whether we ever rejoiced truly in Christ, or whether our joy might not have been “the joy of the hypocrite” that perishes. And yet we are brought to this point we can find true joy and peace in Him alone. Sin, the world, the things of time and sense, business, amusement, pleasure so called, afford now no lasting joy; there is an aching void, a feeling of dreariness and misery connected with everything short of divine communications of mercy, favor, and love. So that though we may not be enabled to say, ‘we greatly rejoice at all times, in all places, at all sea...

"Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in M e." -M ATTHEW 11:6 [KJV] What is the feeling of your heart toward Jesus? What is the solemn desire of your soul? that He would come and make your heart His abode? that He would visit your soul with the light of His countenance? that He would sprinkle His blood upon your conscience? that He would make Himself very near, very dear, and very precious? Do you count one word from His lips worth a thousand worlds? a smile of His countenance worth thousands of gold and silver? Then you are blessed. You are not stumbling upon the dark mountains of error. You are not stumbling at the perfections of the Son of God. You are not offended at a free gospel, an unconditional salvation. No; the Lord in mercy has slaughtered your prejudices, subdued your enmity, and brought you to receive the gospel as a little child. "Well," but some may say, "I believe all this; but, then, I have doubts and fears w...

"But we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." -R OMANS 5:3-4 [KJV] Not only does the believer rejoice in hope of the glory of God, but he rejoices even in tribulation, trials, and afflictions (James 1:2-3; 2 Cor. 12:10). We do not rejoice in the suffering nor the trial itself, for most trials are grievous and difficult; but we rejoice in the EFFECT of the trial. All of our trials are appointed by God, our Father, and are for His glory and our good (Rom. 8:28; Heb. 12:9-11; Psa. 119:71).  "Trials work patience." Patience is submission to the will of God. It is to be content and wait upon the Lord (Heb. 13:5; Psa. 27:13-14). It is the opposite of covetousness, complaining, and haste. It involves not only our attitude toward God and His providence but also our attitude toward others during the trial. "Patience worketh experience" or MATURITY of character and pr...