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

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." -I John 1:10 [KJV] John, the beloved disciple, here describes the obvious condition of all of God's children, irrespective of their hopes and desires contrariwise. They are sinners! They continue sinning, and no matter how much they feebly walk with God, and attempt to crucify the flesh, to their consternation they still find themself deeply imbued with sin.  They are made to groan and cry out with the apostle Paul, "Oh, wretched man that I am. Who shall deliver me from the body of this death." Sin is their incessant, interminable way, and their life, though they bitterly loathe it, and would cease from sinning if they could.  And so, when it is all said and done, they would be calling God a liar if they dared plead innocent . -James F. Poole,   excerpt from  ' Adoption '

"What then?"   -Romans 6:15 [KJV] These short and frequent interrogations of Scripture are greatly to be prized. There is a vast deal contained in these questions: “ What shall we say then? What then?”  They are like the word Shibboleth, with which they tried the people of old; but they could not frame their mouths to pronounce it. They corrupted the word, and said, Sibboleth. So many at this day corrupt the word of the glorious doctrine of grace, by leaving out the "H," holiness , which all the doctrines of the holy gospel are divinely calculated to promote.  “What then?” comes most suitable after the precious doctrine of the justified saints of God, being kept by His power unto eternal salvation. “What then?”  O! whenever you think of God’s everlasting love, and Christ’s finished salvation, and of glory being sure and certain to you, ask your heart, What then? Shall I continue in sin, because such unmerited love, grace, and mercy abounds to me?  ...

"Jesus made a surety."   -Hebrews 7:22 [KJV] My soul, look at Jesus as a Surety, and as "made the Surety"  this morning! Blessed view, if so be the Holy Ghost will enlighten thine eyes to see Him under all these characters. First; a Surety. We are all ruined by a debt incapable of ever being paid by any, or by all, the fallen sons of Adam. Jesus steps in, becomes a Surety for our debt, and pays the whole by His obedience and death . But we owe a duty also, as well as a debt. Jesus becomes here again the Surety. He will put His Spirit in us, and we shall live. He becomes also a Surety for promises, that all God hath promised for His sake, shall be fulfilled in Him, and in us for Him. But He is not only a  Surety, but made a Surety ; for the Father's name, and the Father's authority, is in Him. It is God the Father which saith, I have given Him for a covenant . Precious thought for faith to act upon! And, my soul, is not Jesus thy Surety? Yes, if ...

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things."   -John 14:26 [KJV] If the Lord has given to any of you eyes to see and hearts to receive this divine Comforter, praise, bless, and adore your God and Father, and most merciful Benefactor, for His distinguishing grace in giving you to know Him as your Comforter; and if He has ever dropped into your soul any of His sweet teachings, bless Him that you have received Him also as the Spirit of truth into your conscience.  What but sovereign grace, rich, free and superabounding, has made the difference between you and the world who cannot receive Him? But for His divine operations upon your soul, you would still be of the world, hardening your heart against everything good and godlike, walking on in the pride and ignorance of unbelief and self-righteousness, until you sank down into the chambers of death.  Oh, it is a mercy if but one drop of heavenly c...

"Who are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation." -I Peter 1:5 [KJV] The wicked, who are totally ignorant of the doctrine of grace, assert this truth by their common saying, “They only are well kept, whom God keeps.” Many, who profess to preach the gospel, do not hold forth such sound divinity as this. Consider, these three points: Who are thus kept? How are they kept? Unto what are they kept?  (1st.) Who are kept? St. Paul tells us, they are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God.  (2d.) “Sanctified by the Spirit unto obedience.”  They obey the Father’s voice: they hear and believe on His beloved Son.  Hence, (3d.) Sprinkled by the blood of Christ from the guilt of sin in their consciences.  (4th.) “Begotten to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance reserved in heaven for them.”  The work of the glorious Trinity has passed upon them.  (5th.) Christ calls them, “My sheep”...

"And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land." -Micah 5:5 [KJV] What man is this but the Glory-man, the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus? And what peace, when all enemies oppose the soul, but peace in the blood of His cross? Yes, my soul, Jesus is the wonderful man, who alone could make thy peace. "For as it was by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  And none but one in our own nature could redeem that nature; for the right of redemption belonged only to Him (Leviticus  25:25.) And none but one in our nature could atone, could bleed, could die, and rise again, that He might be the Judge, both of the dead and living. Oh precious Jesus, how suited wert Thou by the union of Thy two natures, as God and man, and God-man, both in one, to be our glorious Mediator, and to be the Lord our Righteousness! Yes, precious Lord, God hath said i...

"With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation." -Psalm 91:16 [KJV] It is not in the number of our years that we shall find preparedness for death. It is not the longer a man lives the more will he be satisfied. No such thing. Then what can the promise mean? Why, that God will satisfy His people with their length of life, whether long or short. God takes His children home at all ages, and He always satisfies them. He always brings them to see and feel that this life is empty and vain, and that it is better, far better, to live in His presence. You may be harassed by the thoughts of death, and be in bondage through the fears of death; and you may be saying, "How will it be with me then?"  I will tell you. If you are a child of God, I firmly believe you will not be removed unwillingly and reluctantly, but you will be willing in the day of the Lord's power (Psalm 110:3) . You will be willing to breathe out your soul into His dear hands,...