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

"...and experience worketh hope." —Romans 5:4 [KJV]     We are ever to consider the gospel as a proclamation of grace to rebels; a declaration of mercy to the profligate and abandoned; glad tidings of salvation to lost, desperate, hopeless sinners. It finds the soul destitute of any one encouraging symptom: it brings all hope and encouragement with it. When the gospel becomes the "power of God to salvation" to any sinner, it works a mighty change in his state and practice. In the sweet experience, proof, or the trial of this, the soul is comforted. Hope concerning his state is confirmed. Experience worketh hope of one's own interest in Jesus, and salvation by Him. It works not by legal terrors and dreadful horrors, as was Judas; nor by working up the animal passions to a flash of joy, just as the stony ground hearers were affected by the word. But it powerfully enlightens the soul to see the evil of sin, and the infinite preciousness of the Lord Jesus, so as t...

" But Jesus answered not a word." —Matthew 15:23 [KJV]  What! not a word from the compassionate Saviour, Who is touched with a feeling of our infirmities? is He deaf to the cries, and dumb to the intreaties of a distressed, sorrowful heart? No; love in the heart has always an open ear to complaints, a ready tongue to speak comfort, and a kind hand to relieve. But love afflicts, to bring His children to Him, and to make them call upon Him: He forbears to answer, that they may be the more importunate. God's delays prove faith's vigor, make love cling closer, prayer more fervent, and patience shine brighter. So the graces of God's children are drawn forth into lively exercise, and are made manifest that they are wrought by God. Perseverance obtains the blessing in due time. Jesus honors and applauds the grace of His beloved members with, 'O man, O woman, great is thy faith!'   Christ knew what work He had wrought in this poor humble, supplicant's heart, ...

  Weekend Gospel message to follow for All Hands (10-12FEB23 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: THE FAITH THAT SAVES “ And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace ” (Luke 7:50). Does the title of this article shock you? Perhaps you are thinking, but faith cannot save anyone, Christ is the One who saves. In this you are correct, “ Salvation is of the LORD.” However, know this, there is no salvation for any sinner who does not believe on the name of the Son of God. What then is faith? Faith is a precious gift of the Lord. “ By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8).   The sovereign grace of God is the fountai...

" Keep yourselves in the love of God." — Jude, vs. 21 [KJV]    The LOVE OF GOD, like every other attribute and perfection of Jehovah, is everlasting and unchangeable; even as the essence of God Himself. This love is manifested to His people in Christ Jesus; He is the object in Whom they are viewed and loved by the Father. As "Jesus is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever," so is God's love towards them. Time, with all its concurring circumstances, can make no alteration or change, increase or diminution herein. But as to the sense and enjoyment of this love, the word of truth and experience of saints plainly testify of its ebbing and flowing, its fervor and abatement in the soul. Hence the necessity of those tender calls, kind warnings, and loving counsels, addressed to believers, in the word of truth; because they are ever to be active as those who are made alive to God, and have their senses exercised to discern between good and evil. Exhortations excite...

" Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." — Hebrews 1:3 [KJV] What St. Paul says of the resurrection of Jesus,— II Corinthians 15 , may, with equal truth, be applied to His divinity. If Jesus be not truly and essentially the self-existing God, 'all preaching is vain; all faith is vain;' all the saints of God must perish in their sins. But we have not so learned Christ, if so be we have heard Him, and know the truth as it is in Jesus. His eternal power and Godhead angels adore, devils tremble at, saints rejoice in, and only poor, blinded, proud sinners dare cavil against and deny.  That Jesus is both Lord and God, lies at the foundation of our faith. That He upholds all things by the word of His power, is the joy of our hearts. That, as man, He hath purged our sins, causes all our hope and c...

The Priest Who Brings Us Near by D.G. Miles McKee   1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,….” Let me ask you a question. Are you more conscious of your sins than you are of the fact that they have already been punished and taken away?  Too much focus on self is unhealthy! As gospel-centered believers, we need to concentrate, not on our sins, but on Jesus and the fact that He has already been punished for them. It is because of Christ and Him alone that we are forgiven, accepted and redeemed!  But there’s more. Not only has the Lord Jesus taken away our sins, He has also introduced us to the Father. (1 Peter 3:18)! This is exceedingly good news. We could never get to God by our frail, faulty and futile efforts, but Jesus, by His person and performance, and on our behalf, has succeeded where we failed.   And there’s even more good news to think about! He, the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest,...

" God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ." — II Corinthians 4:6 [KJV]    This is a glorious confession of faith, worthy to be wrote in letters of gold, and set with the most precious jewels, and ever to be worn as the believer's ornament and glory. For here is the rich display of sovereign grace, and the glory of almighty power, in producing light in the hearts of sinners, who are by nature not only in the dark, but even darkness itself. The knowledge of Jesus is commanded by the same omnipotent Agent, Who called forth light in the beginning, upon this dark terraqueous globe. Light gladdens the whole creation of nature; and this spiritual light causeth joy in the soul; for it gives the knowledge of God's glory. In what respect? that God is glorious in majesty? O this strikes us with horror. Glorious in power? That fills us with terror. Glorious in h...