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

The Correct Formula by D.G. Miles McKee   I recently was asked the following question on the internet.  It asked, “What is God going to do with the people who were baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit instead of the being baptized in the name Jesus Christ?” Here´s my reply, Thanks for the question. With respect, a baptismal formula does not justify ( declare not guilty ) anyone. Christ Jesus alone saves, and baptism is a public declaration that such is the case. The baptismal candidate must first, by faith, be a partaker of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Then, the believer is qualified for Baptism.  Baptism is a testimony which declares that salvation has already been accomplished. An incorrect baptismal formula cannot, therefore, undo the great work that Christ Jesus effectively accomplished at the cross 2000 yrs ago. You see, it is neither by Christ  and  a correct baptismal formula that we are saved, Nor by Christ...

" Mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." —Psalm 38:4 [KJV] Those who think lightly of sin, and account iniquity a trifling thing, evidently shew that the god of this world hath blinded their eyes to the infinite atonement of Jesus, and hardened their hearts through the deceitfulness of sin; therefore they are insensible of grief, and without feeling of godly sorrow for sin. When Jesus is known in the heart, sin is truly abhorred, forsaken, and overcome. But it is most distressing to the regenerate soul when the load of guilt and the burden of sin are suffered to lie, day after day, upon the conscience. O the insupportable agony of such a state, none know but those who have experienced it! One would ask, Is not this contradictory to that comforting assertion, "There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus?" —Romans 8:1— inconsistent with that triumphant challenge, "Who shall lay any thi...

"I was brought low, and He helped me.” -Psalm 116:6 [KJV] It is blessed sometimes that the streams of creature comforts should be dry, in order to compel us to go to the Fountain Head. When the fig-tree doth not blossom and the field yields no meat, then a covenant God is precious to fly to. My soul, say, was not that assault of Satan sanctified, when it brought Jesus thereby to thy rescue? Was not that cross sweetly timed, when it tended to wean thee from the world?  And wouldest thou have been without that sickness, when Jesus sat up by thee, soothed thee in thy languor, and made all thy bed in thy sickness? Well was it for me that I was brought low, or I should never have known, in a thousand instances, the help of my God. Oh then, my soul, like Paul, Learn to glory in thy infirmities, that the power of Jesus may rest upon thee (see II Corinthians 12:9, KJV) .   -preacher Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.)

"The L ORD make His face shine upon thee." -Numbers 6:25 [KJV] The allusion here seems, to my mind, to be to the sun. Sometimes the natural sun has not risen; and the world must needs be dark if the sun be still beneath the horizon. So with many gracious souls; it is darkness with them, midnight darkness, Egyptian darkness, darkness to be felt, because at present neither the Day-star has appeared nor the Sun of righteousness risen upon them with healing in His wings . It will and must be dark with them till the Sun rise. But sometimes after the sun has risen we see not his face; clouds, deep, dark clouds, may obscure the face of that bright luminary throughout the whole day, and we may not get a single ray from him through the whole period that he is above the visible horizon. So, many of the Lord’s family, after the Sun has risen upon them in the morning of their spiritual life, may pass, perhaps, much of their subsequent time in the dark shadow, till perhaps ...

" Love as brethren." —I Peter 3:8 [KJV] Love without reason is a mad passion. Profession without love, is but "a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal;" unmeaning noise to others; unprofiting to him that makes it. Love is of God. It is that precious ointment that is poured forth from the Father of love upon the Head of our spiritual Aaron, and runs down to the skirts of His garment, even upon all His brethren, the children of love. Love descends from God, through Jesus, to us, spreads itself among the brethren, and ascends in grateful odours to the God of love. The prophet asks, "Have we not all one Father?" —Malachi 2:10  Yes, saith our elder Brother, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father." —John 20:17 Hence the Holy Spirit draws the image of Jesus, "the first born of the many brethren," upon each of their souls; and possesses them with the faith of Jesus. "And whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is ...

"And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me." -I Kings 10:6, 7 [KJV] If the queen of the South (- Ethiopia ) was so astonished in the view of [- king ] Solomon's wisdom, what ought to be thy surprize, my soul, in the contemplation of Jesus, in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! When thou didst first hear of Jesus, and when constrained by necessity to come to Him, a poor blind ignorant sinner, how little didst thou conceive either of thyself or Him. He told thee indeed, all that was in thine heart, and made thy very spirit, like her's, to faint within thee, when He shewed thee thy, sin and His Salvation.  Surely then, and often since, even now, hast thou been constrained to say, as she did, the half was not told thee by others, of what sweet discoveries He h...

"The L ORD keep thee." -Numbers 6:24 [KJV] How we need the Lord to keep us! We stand upon slippery places. Snares and traps are laid for us in every direction. Every employment, every profession in life, from the highest to the lowest, has its special temptations. Snares are spread for the feet of the most illiterate as well as the most highly cultivated minds; nor is there any one, whatever his position in life may be, who has not a snare laid for him, and such a snare as will surely prove his downfall if God keep him not.   When Elisha sat upon the mountain and his servant was distressed lest his master should be taken away by violence, the prophet prayed the Lord to open his servant’s eyes. What then saw he? Chariots and horses of fire all round about the mountain guarding the prophet. Perhaps if the Lord were to open our eyes as he opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, we might see devils where he saw angels, see ourselves surrounded by Beelzebub and his le...