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

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (27-29JAN23 A.D.) 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 - Almighty God's unmerited favor - from our sins and from Hell: “ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39)   “ And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).   Jesus is the one great theme both of the Old and New Testaments. The whole Bible is designed to testify of Him (John 5:39). In Christ the Messiah, Jesus the Savior, the Son of God, the Redeemer, all trut...

" And Jesus said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father, which art in heaven ..." —Luke 11:2 [KJV]  Faith in the heart excites prayer from the lips. So the faith of God's elect manifests itself. It cometh from the Lord the Spirit. By it the soul is led to Jesus the mediator; and by Him to God the Father. So each person in the Godhead is known, worshipped, and glorified by believing souls. While we see and feel nothing of our misery and wants, no marvel prayer is an irksome task. From a sight of ourselves, and the knowledge of Jesus, we come to Him daily with simplicity of heart, Master, teach us to pray! It is the highest honor, the sweetest privilege, the most blessed exercise of the soul to draw nigh to God. What greater on earth than to come to the throne of the King of kings? And that fear and shame may not beset and keep us back, knowing our vile nature and sinful practice, hear our Lord and Saviour's encouraging direction, "When ye pray, say, Our Father...

  "... Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." —I Timothy 2:6 [KJV]    The gospel is quite sufficient to answer every objection, and to silence every cavil against salvation by Christ. This sacred oracle we are to consult day after day. Do we ask, Why are any sinners saved? It assures us God hath loved them; this is the cause. If we enquire how God doth save them? It tells us, It is in a way of strict justice, consistent with the honor of God's law, the perfection of His righteousness, holiness, and truth. Therefore redemption is, by stipulated price, the blood of the covenant, the precious blood of Christ as a Lamb without spot. Do we seek to know who are the redeemed of the Lord? Jesus assures us "He gave His life a ransom for many." — Matthew 20:28 —even for ALL whom the Father hath given Him.   The word of God mentions no one in particular; but sets forth salvation in general and extensive terms—it is exactly suited to the most vi...

" Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." —Luke 14:33 [KJV]   "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again," saith Christ, —John 3:7 . The blessed effects of this spiritual birth will be evident in the life. Earthly objects will be forsaken: heavenly ones prized. Jesus will be chosen as our beloved Master and only hope. He being esteemed our treasure, our hearts will be with Him, our affections towards Him; and it will be our chiefest delight to hear His voice, and to follow Him in the regeneration. Coming to Christ, is turning our backs upon the "lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life." By the faith of Jesus we renounce and forsake all these things as our curse and shame. The clearer views we have of Christ's glory, and the stronger our faith is in Him, so much the more we become dead to all things beside Him. Thus it is manifest who are the disciples of Jesus. Their ...

More than Forgiveness ! Let's get this straight, God, because He is righteous, holy and just, hates sin!  Sin is a direct assault on Him and, as such, has earned His wrath, fury and severe displeasure.   Sin is the real obstacle between God and man. We, in our flesh, have an inbuilt hardness and hatred towards God. We are sinners.  We deserve damnation.  But God, in grace, punished our sins in the person of our substitute Jesus Christ and forgave us.  This is good news.  Our sins were punished, and we were forgiven.   “But, how is this possible?” you ask, “If He didn’t just forgive our sins what did He do with them?” Here’s the answer. He purged them and put them away (Hebrews 9:26) . In grace, love and mercy we were given the gift of the Sin-Bearer, Jesus the Christ.  He laid down His life for us. He took our place, becoming a curse instead of us. Our sins were laid on Him. He became our substitute and died instead of us.   The gospel truth ...

" Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth." —John 17:17 [KJV]  Thus prayed our great High Priest on earth. What He asked in His humiliation, is founded upon the word and will of His Father; and He hath power to effect in His exaltation. Hence we have the fullest assurance of the perfect sanctification of all His members. Hence the desires and breathings of souls after holiness are encouraged; and the prayers of the faithful gather the strongest confidence of success.   While our Beloved expresses His affectionate concern for His people's salvation, we see an equal regard for the honor and glory of His Father's word. Love for holiness, and love of the truth are inseparable. As the gospel prevails in the heart, holiness is increased. It is first life, then liveliness in the soul: it is the ministration of the Spirit in the sanctification of the spirit. Whatever working we find of the Spirit in the heart, it is by the word of truth. The life of believers is fr...

" O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar." —Psalm 42:6 [KJV]    In times of dejection and distress, the thoughts of a dear friend, who has comforted us in times past, tend to alleviate the mind. If we are assured of his love to us, we question not his readiness to assist us. So under the affecting loss of a dear brother, Martha addresses the Saviour, "Lord, if Thou hadst been there, my brother had not died." —John 11:21 .   Inexpressible blessedness, to live in a holy familiarity with the God of love! How simple are David's words! how freely doth he pour out his complaints, and tell God of his sorrows! though his soul was bowed down within him, heaviness of mind beset him, the sweet sunshine of joy was overcast by the dark cloud of sorrow, yet faith's piercing eye looks through all. Regardless of his own frames and feelings, he has direct recourse to God.  ...