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

There was not a speck of sin on the conscience, nor a principle of sin in the nature of His people for which Christ was not judged on the cross; and they are now looked upon as having died with Christ, lain in the grave with Christ, and, as His people, raised from the dead with Christ, perfectly accepted in Him – their sins, their iniquities, their transgressions, their enmity, their uncircumcision, having been entirely put away by the cross. The sentence of death has been written on the flesh; but the believer is in possession of a new life, in union with his risen Head in glory. What rest – perfect rest – for the heart and conscience is here! What full relief for the burdened spirit! All our sins buried in the grace of Christ, not one – even the smallest – left out! God did this for us! All that His searching eye could detect in us, He laid on the head of Christ when He hung upon the cross! He judged Him there and then, instead of judging us in hell forever. — preacher C. H....

"He that spared not H is own Son, but delivered H im up for us all, how shall H e not with H im also freely give us all things?" -Romans 8:32 [KJV] I have thought sometimes of the sweet figure of Solomon, as a type of Christ, in his royal munificence to the queen of Sheba. We read of him that he "gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty." So our Royal Benefactor gives more to the sons of men than is in their heart to ask for. And what He gives, He gives freely , out of His royal bounty. As freely as the rain drops from the sky; as freely as the sun casts forth his glorious beams and ripens the fruits of the field; as freely as the wind courses over the earth; as freely as the dew drops upon the morning grass; so free are the gifts of God to His Church and people.   Indeed, in giving Christ, God gave everything. The Apostle declares, He "hath blessed us with all spiritual bles...

" 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] The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11) . Why did He lay down His life for His sheep? It was because they are sinners, and sin must be punished with death. Christ, the good Shepherd, laid down His life for the sins of His sheep charged to Him. Now if He died for His sheep who are sinners, He will most certainly receive His them as sinners. Christ receives His sheep, sinful men and women, as objects of His Father's love and as trophies of His Father's grace. This is evidenced in time when in their new birth (regeneration and conversion by the Holy Spirit) His sheep follow Him as they believe God's promise in the Gospel, receive Christ and His righteousness by faith, and repent from former idolatry and dead works. This is their entrance...

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." -John 3:3 [KJV] True religion begins with an entrance into the soul of supernatural light and supernatural life. How or why it comes the soul knows not; for "the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of the Spirit." The wind itself is not seen, but its effects are felt. The sound of a going is heard in the tops of the mulberry trees, where God Himself is not seen. The voice of the LORD, powerful and full of majesty, was heard by those who saw no similitude (Deut eronomy 4:12) . Thus effects are felt, though causes are unknown.   Streams flow into the heart from a hidden source; rays of light beam into the soul from an unrisen sun; and kindlings of life awake in us a new existence out of an unseen fountain. The new-born babe feels life in all its limbs, though it knows not yet the ear...

The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” ( II Timothy 4:2) . The “word” here is the Word of God (the Scriptures) as it reveals and pertains to the glory and greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great salvation HE has attained for and gives to His people by the free, sovereign grace of God. To “preach the Word” is to “preach Christ crucified” ( I Corinthians 1:23) , to “preach Christ’s Gospel” ( II Corinthians 2:12) , both the glory of His Person as God with us and the power of His obedience unto death as our Surety, Substitute, and Redeemer, the Lord our Righteousness. All instructions in righteousness, faith, repentance, obedience, love, and worship are to be taken directly from God’s Word and not man’s opinions and preferences. Let us pray that our lives be motivated by His love and grace in Christ and guided by His Word as it is in Christ. -preacher B...

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." -Hebrews 2:14-15 [KJV] It is only because of the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ that believers may face death without fear. Death, the penalty of sin, has already been endured for us by the Savior. In fact, rather than us dying, the Savior said to Martha, in John 11:26, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this? " When believers pass from this life, they "sleep in Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:14); the soul goes to paradise and the body sleeps in the dust, awaiting a glorious resurrection. "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the everlasting dawn has finally arrive...

It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary rest. Dear Name! the Rock on which I build My Shield and Hiding-place; My never-failing Treasury fill'd With boundless stores of grace. By Thee my prayers acceptance gain, Although with sin defiled; Satan accuses me in vain, And I am own'd a child. Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, My Prophet, Priest, and King; My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, Accept the praise I bring. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see Thee as Thou art, I'll praise Thee as I ought. Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath; And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death! -preacher John Newton