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

" Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." —Matthew 26:56 [KJV] On reading this, who can refrain from crying out, "Lord, what is man!" What danger am I in! Lord, keep me! What awful effects have a fit of fear and a frame of unbelief produced! Here was the beloved disciple JOHN, who lay in the bosom of Jesus; the courageous PETER, who was to die with Him; the ambitious JAMES, who requested to sit at His right hand in His kingdom; with every one of the other disciples, forsaking and flying from innocence in distress.  The shepherd was seized, and the affrighted sheep were instantly scattered. Provoking ingratitude! Dost thou think, O my soul, thou wouldst have acted one whit better? Verily, if so thou art vain. Now if Jesus had chosen them, and continued to love them, on condition of their faithful conduct towards Him, this single instance was sufficient to turn His love to hatred, His election of them into reprobation, and casting them off for e...

" That we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us." —Hebrews 6:18 [KJV] Man is equally fallen from God with the devil. There is only this difference between them; sovereign grace provides hope for men, and not for devils. JESUS is the only hope for lost sinners. To Him the heirs of promise flee. In Him they find a refuge from every danger. Like the man-slayer under the law, who was in danger of death on every side, and no way of safety but in the city of refuge, which God appointed for him. Here his life was safe. The law of God was his protection. No one durst take vengeance on him.  Such was God's provision for him. Infinitely superior are the settlements of grace. The salvation of the soul, with eternal life and glory are for ever secured to us by God's immutable counsel, His inviolable promises—Yea more, God has pledged Himself; He hath confirmed all by His OATH. O, the cursed nature of unbelief...

" Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." —I John 1:3 [KJV] The prophet asks, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" —Amos 3:3. No. There can be no sweet communion, no comfortable fellowship between God and man, except they be agreed. See then, O soul, this fellowship is enjoyed by faith: for by faith we are brought into agreement with God. Consider, how the glorious THREE concur to make our souls thus happy. It pleased God the Father, that all fulness should dwell in His Son. He determined to display all His grace and glory in the MAN Jesus, for the sinner's salvation—Hence he saith to us, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, HEAR YE HIM."   But we are averse to agree with God and to hear Jesus. We had rather have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, and that the devil should rule over us; than that Jesus should have the whole glory of saving us by His grace. But the ...

Why Jesus Came by D G Miles McKee Luke 19:10   Why did Christ Jesus come to earth?  Why indeed?  Many answers have been given to that most excellent of questions. Some, for example, say that Jesus came to give us the illustration of a Perfect Man.  Some say, on the other hand, He came to show us how we should live.  Others consider Him the greatest teacher of all time and say He came to teach us right from wrong.  There are many more theories about why He came but to find the answer to this question we should let Jesus speak for Himself.   In Luke 19:10, in a simple sentence of 15 words, He declares one of His reasons for coming saying, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10).   Let’s unpack that statement .    “ .. the Son of man came.” …   The Son of Man is a term mostly used by our Lord to denote His humanity . Yet when we examine Him, we discover that before He came to earth...

" Righteousness delivereth from death." —Proverbs 11:4 [KJV] When a poor sinner is brought to judge of himself according to the word of truth, then is he truly wise. When he sees the exceeding sinfulness of sin, he is humbled before the Lord. When he considers "the wages of sin is death," he fears and trembles. But when he is enabled to believe he is righteous in the sight of God, then he is truly happy. His soul rejoiceth, because his eyes have seen the salvation of God; and he hath found a righteousness that delivers from death.  It is never well with the soul, but when in simplicity and godly sincerity, it forms its judgment of sin and righteousness from the word of the Lord. For carnal reason and fleshly wisdom pervert and draw it aside from the truth as it is in Jesus. Sin is a transgression of the law, which is holy, just, and good. "Death has passed upon all men." Verily then I am a cursed sinner, and have need to cry daily, "Go...

" Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." —Colossians 3:15 [KJV] Every exhortation in the word of grace implies a contrary disposition in the fallen nature of saints. Because thou hast turbulence and disorder in thy flesh, therefore art thou, believer, called upon by the word, to oppose it in the grace of the Spirit. Here is thy daily exercise. We shall surely meet with many things from within and without, which are contrary to the peace of our minds, and the comfort of our hearts. Thou, O man of God, art to flee these things: watch against them; pray for victory over them. Thou hast the most powerful excitements hereto.  Jesus hath made peace by the blood of His cross. Every disciple is called to the knowledge and enjoyment of it through faith. Called to be of that one body whereof Jesus is the Head. Hence the handwriting of the law of accusation is cancelled in the mind; sin is dethroned in the heart; ...

" Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." —Matthew 5:8 [KJV] Every institution of purification under the law referred to Jesus, the purifier of His people. Old-Testament saints received inward purity of heart from the same Fountain, Jesus; and through the same means, faith in Him. Without this inward purity of heart, "without holiness, no man ever did or ever shall see the Lord." When Jesus comes to His temple, even the hearts of His people, He "sits as a refiner and purifier." Sinners are the objects of His love. Sin is the accursed thing His soul hates. From this He purifies them.  In purity and holiness His soul delights: with this He blesses His disciples. He then pronounces them blessed. He tells them wherein their happiness consists: blessed are you, whose hearts are pure: blessed are your eyes, for they shall see God. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one of fallen Adam's race , Job. 14:4 . Such po...