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

  "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in thy weakness." —II Corinthians 12:9 [KJV]   Spiritual conflicts with the enemy of souls are the lot of all God's children. Holy Paul was under deep and afflicting distress of soul. Satan the adversary assaulted him very powerfully. He groaned under it; he frequently besought Jesus that this grievous and painful messenger of Satan might be made to depart from him, and that his conflict might be at an end. O, what distressing exercises God's children undergo from the enemy! The hearts of such only know the bitterness thereof.  But is the Captain of their salvation regardless of them? Is He deaf to their prayers when they call on Him? No: He ever hears, He always answers in love. But did the Lord grant His dear servant's request? No; then the design of love would not have been answered. Paul was in danger of being "exalted above measure." This was to be prevented. He was ...

" Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." —Philippians 4:6 [KJV] All anxious cares which torture and distress the mind arise from unbelief; they are contrary to our profession, dishonorable to our God, and hurtful to the peace and comfort of our souls. Therefore they are forbid by the gospel of grace, in love to the children of God. But, believer, thou hast not so learned Christ as to pass away a life of careless indolence and thoughtless inactivity. No; vigilance, industry, and fervency of spirit, is a suitable frame ever to be found in. Not slothful in business, but fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord.  Careful and diligent in the use of all means in thy power, both to procure the subsistence and welfare of thy body, as well as to keep up the liveliness and vigour of thy soul. Careful and diligent, yet without care that hath disquietude and distress. As to the things...

" If a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." —Galatians 6:3 [KJV] The leaven of Pharisaism, pride, self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency, is interwoven with our very nature. In the beginning that arch-deceiver, Satan, poisoned the minds of our first parents with that corrupt doctrine, "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." This infection hath tainted the whole human race: naturally every man deceiveth himself: he thinks himself to be that which in reality he is not. Hence is rooted enmity to the salvation of Jesus and the grace of the gospel: here man is nothing; here the creature is annihilated.  As Paul saith of an "idol, it is nothing in the world:" so that idol, a man's self, is nothing, knows nothing, can do nothing in the great work of salvation. Fallen nature, with all its boasted goodness, affected piety, devout efforts, contributes nothing; for "all is of grace," rich, ...

Is There a Difference? by D.G. Miles McKee   There may well be many counted righteous before God who are far from having a crystal-clear understanding of the great and excellent doctrine of justification by grace through faith.  Some people get very confused about Justification.  However, it is not by believing various doctrinal truths that we are saved.  Doctrine, although necessary and vital for growth in the Christian life, does not bring salvation.  Salvation comes by believing in and on the Lord Jesus.   It is by trusting Jesus that a sinner is saved.   Take, the simple example of Justification and Pardon.  A believer may confuse these terms and yet be saved. Of course, there are some who say that pardon, and justification, mean one and the same thing, and that these terms may be used as interchangeable expressions.  But the truth is, pardon and justicication convey entirely different meanings. Let’s look at this for a ...

" Fear not, thou worm Jacob." —Isaiah 41:14 [KJV]  In the light of truth, and under the teaching of the Spirit, every believer in Jesus loses sight of the once fancied dignity of his human nature, and sinks in the view of himself to the meanest reptile. Probably the church, in Isaiah's days, had been considering her weak, helpless state; surrounded with trials and difficulties; exposed continually to the power of enemies on every side; in great danger of being trodden under feet and crushed to death; and had been laying her case before the Lord, confessing the words of David, "I am a worm, and no man."—Psalm 22:6.  Well, the Lord condescends to reply to such humble souls in their own language. "Though thou art as mean in thine own eyes, and as despicable in the sight of others as a poor, base, insignificant, crawling worm of the earth, yet thou art precious in my sight. Though thou hast no power in thyself to resist thine enemies, no strengt...

" For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him, Amen, unto the glory of God by us." —II Corinthians 1:20 [KJV] Through the workings of our carnal frames, it is natural to us all to seek comfort from legal work, instead of gospel promises. When a poor sinner is taught by man to believe, "unless he performs the condition, he cannot receive the blessing of the promise:" from this mistaken notion he labours and toils for a season, but finding himself unable to reduce the doctrine to practice, he sits down in dejection, and gives up all hope of mercy in this way. This will always be the case where sincerity is not suffered to give way to self-deceit.  But when the Sun of righteousness ariseth with glory on the soul, these mists of ignorance flee away. When the free-love of the everlasting covenant is made manifest to a sinner's heart, by the Spirit, he cries out in wonder and ecstasy, "This is all my salvation and all my desire." Whe...

" Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."  -Psalm 40:5 [KJV]