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

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” -Romans 15:13 [KJV] All people, lost and saved, desire both joy and peace. But man, by nature, seeks these things where they cannot be truly found in eternity. He may find moments of joy and peace, but these moments will not last. Some may last until the judgment, but false joy and peace will be exposed as men come before Christ (cf. Matthew 7:21-23) .  The Word of God speaks of “joy and peace in believing.” But people can believe a lie, and most, even in religion, do. This joy and peace come by and from the Lord Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace to save, preserve, protect, ad glorify His people based on the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and as the Holy Spirit gives them spiritual life in the revelation of the true Gospel to them. See Isaiah 32:16-20; Romans 1:16-17; 10:13-15 ...

" I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing." -Romans 7:18 [KJV] This is the knowledge which puffeth not up; but like love, edifieth the soul in deep humility: while it excites overflowing gratitude in the heart to Christ for His righteousness, to justify vile sinners. It is the knowledge of regenerate souls. I know: not only doctrinally, in notion and theory, but it is a confirmed truth, by heart-felt experience. I know it from day to day: I have proved it again and again: I am fully assured of it, as I am of my own existence, that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.   St. Paul’s judgment of himself was confirmed by experience. But was he not a most eminent apostle, and holy saint? Yes; still he confesses publicly before God, angels, and men, that he was the subject of a nature, which was earthly, sensual, and devilish. If no good thing dwelt in his flesh, is it not implied, that every evil dwelt there? Doubtless, he would be so understoo...

  What sacred Fountain yonder springs Up from the Throne of God And all new cov’nant blessings bring ‘Tis Jesus’ precious blood!   What mighty sum paid all my debt When I a bondman stood And has my soul at freedom set ‘Tis Jesus’ precious blood!   What stream is that which sweeps away My sins just like a flood Nor lets one guilty blemish stay ‘Tis Jesus’ precious blood!   What voice is that which speaks for me In Heav’n’s high court for good And from the curse has set me free ‘Tis Jesus’ precious blood!    old hymn, “O For A Thousand Tongues”

Only God Can Forgive Sins by D. G. Miles McKee   “ Who can forgive sins, but God alone? ”   - Luke 5:21 [KJV] One of the remarkable things about Jesus is that He was always going around forgiving sins. However, to forgive sins is exclusively the divine prerogative and Jesus, if He is not God, has no business meddling in such affairs. If he’s not God, he’s a fraud! C.S. Lewis says of Christ’s forgiving sins, “This is so preposterous as to be comic. We can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself. You tread on my toe and I forgive you---but what should we make of a man, himself un-trodden on, who announces that he forgave you for treading on other men’s toes? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should give this conduct.” -C.S. Lewis: Mere Christianity Indeed, Jesus was asinine ( silly and stupid ) if He was, in fact, not God. What is more, that is what you are calling Him if you do not believe He is God?  You say He has forgiven your...

" Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord." -John 20:20 [KJV]   “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” (Ecclesiastes 11:7.) But, O how much more sweet and pleasant, to see the light, and behold the glory of the Sun of Righteousness! This inspires the heart with gladness. These disciples had lost their dear Lord, and mourned in darkness for His absence. Tongue cannot tell their inexpressible joy, at seeing Him again. Their sight was by the eye of sense: ours is by the eye of faith. Yet our sight is not less real than theirs: and it brings the same gladness to our hearts also. Therefore it is highly prized by us. For we can neither live comfortably, walk holily, nor die happily, without seeing the Lord Christ.  For, (1st.) A sight of Christ by faith, brings peace to the conscience. There is ever a war within, between the flesh and the spirit: grace and nature: the old man and the new. The motion of sin ...

" For when I am weak, then am I strong." -II Corinthians 12:10 [KJV] We have read of St. Paul’s revelations, exaltings, buffetings, and his praying: now of his humbling sight of himself. He is brought down to his right place, low in self; and to his right feelings, weak in self. Hence we see the true nature and blessed end of Christian experience. It keeps the soul from being puft up with pride, lest it fall into the condemnation of the devil. It sinks it low in humility: under a sense of weakness; and it leads out of self, to look for all its strength in Christ. Here the strength of faith is opposed to the weakness of sense. When I am sensibly weak, then I am believingly strong. This, though a difficult lesson, yet is a precious one.  (1st.) Do we see ourselves weak? Christ is held forth to us as our strength, and He calls upon us to be strong in Him. “Trust in the Lord for ever, for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4.) But surely, foll...

  Compared with Christ in all beside No beauty can I see The one thing needful, dearest Lord Is to be one with Thee.   The sense of Thy redeeming love Into my soul convey Thyself bestow, for Thee alone My All-in-All, I pray.   Less than Thyself will not suffice My comfort to restore More than Thyself I cannot crave And Thou cans’t give no more.   Loved of my God, for Him again With love intense I’d burn Chosen of Thee ere time began I’d choose Thee in return.