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

"This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son JESUS CHRIST, and love one another." -I John 3:23 [KJV] When a weary traveller has lost his way, what pleasure must the sight of a * directory afford him? How must his joy be increased, if it informs him he is near a dear friend’s house, who will kindly receive him? Weary pilgrim, look at this directory, and rejoice. You are near a dear Friend, who will kindly receive, and heartily welcome you. Obey this command, and enjoy the comfort.    Consider, (1st.) who commands. God the Father of heaven: that God against whom you have sinned, and by sin art become miserable. He would have you be both holy and happy. You can be neither without believing. Both are enjoyed in faith.    (2d.) The command. Believe . By the ten commandments thou art condemned: thou art brought in guilty by them. The law ministers nothing but wrath and condemnation. God be merciful to us miserable sinners! God shews ...

"And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." -Genesis 32:24 [KJV] My soul, here is a lovely portion for the morning. For the morning, did I say? Yea, both for night and morning, and, indeed, until the everlasting morning break in upon thee, and all the shadows of the night flee away. For are not all the seed of Jacob like their father, wrestlers in the actings of faith, and the fervour of prayer, until they come off, like him, prevailing Israels? And who was this man which wrestled with the patriarch? Let scripture explain scripture, and give the answer.  By his strength, said the prophet Hosea 12:3-5 “He had power with God; yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto him; he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; even the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is his memorial." Here then light is thrown upon the subject. He that is called a man in one scripture, is called an angel in this other. ...

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ." -Philippians 1:27 [KJV] What is this conversation? The word means the whole of your walk before God and before man. It is a very comprehensive term in the original, meaning, literally, "Conduct yourselves as citizens." It therefore includes the whole of our spiritual fellowship and daily intercourse with God and man. It thus views us as citizens of no mean city; as citizens, I may indeed say, of a heavenly city, the new Jerusalem; and it bids us walk and speak, live and act, as becometh citizens of a heavenly country. This, then, is the meaning of the word "conversation" in our text, and by it we are called to walk with God as becometh the gospel. He has reconciled us to Himself by the blood of His dear Son; and when we receive the atonement, or reconciliation, as the word means, then we can walk with God in peace, equity, and amity, for sin, which made the breach, is remov...

Every peaceful conscience is not a good one, nor is every uneasy conscience an evil one.  The conscience of some is quiet because it is insensible. ...  On the other hand, a tender conscience is liable to err through lack of sufficient light, and needlessly write better things against itself, which is a “weak conscience” (I Corinthians 8:12.) -preacher Arthur Pink , Exposition of Hebrews , p.1252

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." -Titus 3:5 [KJV] “Shew us a miracle, and we will believe You are inspired,” say carnal men. We can, but they have no eyes to see it. Blessed be God, miracles are not ceased. The Lord works miracles of grace daily. Every regenerate sinner is a miracle of God the Father’s mercy, of God the Son’s grace, and of God the Holy Spirit’s power. His humble language proclaims it.  I stand forth and declare, that I was a vile sinner, condemned by the law of God, and justly deserving the damnation of hell; yet full of the pride of my own works, and confident of salvation by my own righteousness; but God, by an act of sovereign mercy, has saved me from the power of sin, and a vain confident hope of my own righteousness. “Not by works which we have done.”  Our works are out of the question. For all boasting is excluded. Yet the notion of absolute mercy in God to any sinner, without res...

"Thou art my hiding place” -Psalm 32:7 [KJV] Yes, dearest Jesus, Thou art indeed my hiding place. In every point of view, I desire grace so to behold Thee. Surely, from everlasting, in Thee, and Thy person and righteousness, were all Thy redeemed hid in the councils of peace and salvation.  And is not every individual hid in Thee also, Oh Thou glorious head of Thy church; while in a state of unrenewed nature, to be secured from death and the grave, and from the unpardonable sin; and as one of the apostles terms it, "preserved in Christ Jesus, and called."   And when called, and quickened by grace, what, but from having our lives hid with Christ in God, could keep alive the incorruptible seed, or preserve unextinguished the immortal spark?  Whence is it, my soul, that the smoking flax, which Satan and thine own remaining indwelling lusts strive to blow out, is not quenched; or the bruised reed, which appears so continually falling, is not broken—but because Je...

"He shall see of the TRAVAIL of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My  righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities."   -Isaiah 53:11 [KJV] If one could be saved some other way than by Christ's effectual travail, then Christ's travail would be in vain. It is either 100% His obedience unto death and nothing else added by the sinner, or it is conditioned on the contributions the sinner is doing to gain acceptance, which implies Christ's obedient travail unto death is not sufficient.   A message that does NOT clearly display the Person and work of Christ being absolutely effectual, making the only difference for whom He died to establish a perfect righteousness for His people, can only be shown as a miserable failure and false christ who is no savior at all.   Your travail, work, effort, righteousness, holiness, godliness, in meriting, gaining, and earning anything towards acceptance is self-righteous, prideful, dead works ...