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

" Godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of." -II Corinthians 7:10 [KJV] By legal preaching, setting forth the curses of the law, and the terrors of hell, a sinner’s conscience may be made to tremble under the dread of damnation. He may be said to repent. “Judas thus repented himself, and said, I have sinned.” He might be sorry for it. His sin might make his heart ache, and fill his soul with horrors. But here was no godly sorrow. God was not in all his thoughts. No repentance unto salvation: this was out of his sight. His repentance was unto damnation. For “he went out and hanged himself,” (Matthew 27:5.) Natural fears and legal terrors may excite sorrow without the grace of repentance.  (1st.) What then is godly sorrow? It springs from God, it is excited by the views of God, it is directed to God, and arises in the heart on account of God. With David the soul cries, “against Thee only have I sinned,” (Psalm 51:4.) The heart is ...

All prescriptions of duty belongs to the law ... the law of God originated in his relation to men as moral agents; and in his necessary dominion over them, of which it is a natural expression: but the gospel, in his royal, supreme prerogative; it being the result of his mere, sovereign pleasure.   The former [the law] considers them as rational creatures that are bound to obey: the latter [the gospel], as guilty creatures, who deserve to suffer.  The precepts of divine law are the language of stern authority: the doctrines of the gospel are the voice of condescending mercy.  In that [the law], justice unsheathes the sword and demands vengeance: in this [the gospel], mercy exhibits pardon, and proclaims peace.   Divine law is the awful ministration of death, as the desert of sin: the everlasting gospel is the good news of life as the effect of boundless grace.  That [the law] by a righteous charge of guilt and of deserved ruin, stops the ...

The ABCs of the Gospel by D.G. Miles McKee     “ A ” stands for the vitally important text without which the gospel makes no sense, “ A ll have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Have you heard of Sir James Simpson? He discovered the use of chloroform in 1887 and by his discovery revolutionized surgery.  He is known as a giant in the history of medicine.  However, when asked by one of his students what he considered to be the most valuable discovery of his lifetime, he replied, “My most valuable discovery was when I discovered myself a sinner and that Jesus Christ was my Saviour.” Yes indeed, the first thing we are to realize is that we are sinners in need of a Saviour. Jesus only saves sinners.  He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17).   Salvation is for the guilty (Jeremiah 33:8). For the sinner (Luke 7: 37, 47). For the lost (Luke 19:10). For the ungodly (Romans 4:5). This is wond...

"This is our God for ever, and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." -Psalm 48:14 [KJV] Here is, (1st.) The joyful claim of faith. This God: Just as though the sinner saw Him as visible, pointed to Him, and exulted in Him. “Is our God.” It is our special mercy, we do not serve an unknown God. Our God has manifested Himself to us: is known by us: we have felt His sovereign grace and almighty power within us. Hence, we own Him, come to Him, and rejoice in Him, as our covenant God in Christ. He came from heaven to earth, to seek and to save us. He has given us hearts to ascend from earth to heaven.  There we view our reconciled God and Father, at perfect peace with us; our God Redeemer, ever living to save us; our God and Comforter, winging the joys of salvation into our hearts, and thereby sanctifying us unto eternal glory. “This our God, ever rests in His love to us” (Zephaniah 3:17.) “He will never turn away from us to do us good.” (Jeremiah 32:40.)  ...

" Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:24 [KJV] Who are in this happy state? Men, apostate men! who have alike “sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” But are impenitent and unbelieving sinners justified? Who will dare assert this? St. Paul fully contradicts it. He expressly says, the righteousness of God, (that one righteousness which God appoints, accepts and approves) which is by faith of Jesus Christ, (received by that faith, which Jesus is the Author and Finisher of, Hebrews 12:2 .) is unto all, and upon all them who believe.  But unbelievers reject this glorious righteousness of Christ. Therefore, they are not in a state of justification. Doubtless, God hath it in His secret and eternal purposes, to justify all them who shall believe: therefore, He gives them faith in time. Then, what was eternally decreed, effectually takes place in their souls: then, they come as condemned malefactors, to ...

"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the L ORD ." -Lamentations 3:40 [KJV] This book is justly styled, the Lamentations. The dear children of God were now in captivity and deep distress. Jeremiah most pathetically enumerates and laments their great calamities. We shall never get out of this book of Lamentations, while in the body. We daily see cause for lamentation, on one account and another: and, indeed, if we did not, it would be a bad sign, that, our eyes were blinded by self-righteous pride, or our hearts hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. “As sorrowing, yet always rejoicing,” is the Christian’s motto.  Times of calamity, and seasons of distress, call for self-examination and soul-searching. This will keep down murmurings and complaints. (1st.) Let us search, look for, and enquire after something that may support and comfort us, and teach us to improve our distress. Soul, let thy circumstances be what they may, thy Lord’s advice is ev...

" The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness by men." -Romans 1:18 [KJV] One sin ruined the whole race of Adam. It brought curse and wrath upon every soul of man. Every man that ever lived, that now lives, and that ever shall live upon this earth, is by nature a child of wrath; and the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against his sin, not one soul excepted. How is this wrath revealed?  (1st.) At the giving the holy law on Mount Sinai (Exodus ch. 19.) There the Lord revealed all the terror and glory of His majesty, as the most holy, sin-hating God. O think of the mount that burned with fire! the blackness, darkness, and tempest!—the awful sound of the trumpet!—the terrible voice of words, which they who heard, entreated they should not be spoken any more. And so terrible was the sight, that even Moses said, “I exceedingly fear and quake” (Hebrews 12:21.) O! think of this; and think not what is called the least sin, a ...