Jesus is coming again, scriptures is filled with promises of His 2nd Coming. It will bring hope and rest to the true church, but it will bring judgment to the unbelievers.
James 5:8 Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.
1 Corinthians 1:7-8 So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The time when He comes will be when the church is spiritually sleeping and people are concerned about enjoyng life.
Luke 17:28-32 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he who shall be upon the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.
There is no new age of peace coming where different religion harmonize and appreciate each other, because our basic problem is not lack of tolerance, our basic problem is our tolerance for sins. This world's greatest problem is not global warming but global rebellion again God.
The bible is clear that all of us have sinned:
Romans 3:10-14 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
The remedy for our sin is to cry out to Jesus for our salvation, he saved us from the curse and control of sins when he died at the cross, shedding His innocent blood for you and me. We are saved to live a holy life, a life that glorify God, we are not saved to have a self fulfilling time on earth.
Today Jesus is calling you, will you come to Jesus?
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Jesus is calling you
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
Luke 5:31-32 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 5:31-32 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 18:2-4 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Bitterness
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
James 3:14-15 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Bitterness is an ugly sin, and it grow out of resentment and unforgiveness on our part. Often the root cause of it is due to being hurt in the past. I know of a friend who is bitter because of being ill-treated while serving in the army, then he become bitter to the university because of his failures in the school examination. Now he continues to be bitter and is evident in his conversation everytime he mention about God or the army or the university.
I struggle with bitterness because another group in my church is doing better in their ministry than the ministry I am involved in. Why do I feel bitter? I think it is because their better performance make me feel inferior, and I think I dislike a church elder and another deacon who feel they are superior to me and critique me because their ministry is growing, I was hurt by it. The ministry I was involved in is struggling and we need support and encourgement, not someone to critique and find fault with my ministry.
So I think God knows bitterness will come that is why God inspired the two verses above. Bitterness defiles us, it make us unpleasant people and cause us to focus on ourselve rather than on God, prolonged bitterness lead to anger.
What is the remedy for bitterness?
The same verse says we should look diligently that we may not fail from God's grace. Meaning we should be very careful, very vigilant to guard ourselves from loosing focus on God's grace, being diligent means we nip it in the bud and don't allow our mind to dwell on bitterness.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
We are saved by God's grace, and this grace continues to abound in us, helping us to forgive others and surrender our hurt and bitterness to God. We grieve the Holy Spirit and reject grace each time we give in to bitterness. When we resist grace and continue in bitterness, we are like someone kicking against the pricks:
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
What is the meaning "kick against the pricks" ? read Barnes commentary on this:
The word translated "pricks" here--kentra--means, properly, any sharp point which will pierce or perforate, as the sting of a bee, etc. But it commonly means an ox-goad, a sharp piece of iron stuck into the end of a stick, with which the ox is urged on. These goads, among the Hebrews, were made very large. Thus Shamgar slew six hundred men with one of them, Jg 3:31: Comp. 1Sa 13:21. The expression, "to kick against the prick," or the goad, is derived from the action of a stubborn and unyielding ox, kicking against the goad. And as the ox would injure no one by it but himself--as he would gain nothing--it comes to denote an obstinate and refractory disposition and course of conduct, opposing motives to good conduct; resisting the authority of Him who has a right to command; and opposing the leadings of Providence, to the injury of him who makes the resistance.
So when we are bitter, we are like a stubborn ox kicking against a piece of sharp iron, it only hurt ourselves.
Resolve in our heart to pursue peace and grace and holiness, seek reconciliation with those who have hurt us, even if they don't reconcile with us, we should pray for blessing on those who have hurt us.
We can overcome bitterness because Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
When we overcome bitterness, the reward is the joy of fellowship with our Lord Jesus.
James 3:14-15 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Bitterness is an ugly sin, and it grow out of resentment and unforgiveness on our part. Often the root cause of it is due to being hurt in the past. I know of a friend who is bitter because of being ill-treated while serving in the army, then he become bitter to the university because of his failures in the school examination. Now he continues to be bitter and is evident in his conversation everytime he mention about God or the army or the university.
I struggle with bitterness because another group in my church is doing better in their ministry than the ministry I am involved in. Why do I feel bitter? I think it is because their better performance make me feel inferior, and I think I dislike a church elder and another deacon who feel they are superior to me and critique me because their ministry is growing, I was hurt by it. The ministry I was involved in is struggling and we need support and encourgement, not someone to critique and find fault with my ministry.
So I think God knows bitterness will come that is why God inspired the two verses above. Bitterness defiles us, it make us unpleasant people and cause us to focus on ourselve rather than on God, prolonged bitterness lead to anger.
What is the remedy for bitterness?
The same verse says we should look diligently that we may not fail from God's grace. Meaning we should be very careful, very vigilant to guard ourselves from loosing focus on God's grace, being diligent means we nip it in the bud and don't allow our mind to dwell on bitterness.
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
We are saved by God's grace, and this grace continues to abound in us, helping us to forgive others and surrender our hurt and bitterness to God. We grieve the Holy Spirit and reject grace each time we give in to bitterness. When we resist grace and continue in bitterness, we are like someone kicking against the pricks:
Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
What is the meaning "kick against the pricks" ? read Barnes commentary on this:
The word translated "pricks" here--kentra--means, properly, any sharp point which will pierce or perforate, as the sting of a bee, etc. But it commonly means an ox-goad, a sharp piece of iron stuck into the end of a stick, with which the ox is urged on. These goads, among the Hebrews, were made very large. Thus Shamgar slew six hundred men with one of them, Jg 3:31: Comp. 1Sa 13:21. The expression, "to kick against the prick," or the goad, is derived from the action of a stubborn and unyielding ox, kicking against the goad. And as the ox would injure no one by it but himself--as he would gain nothing--it comes to denote an obstinate and refractory disposition and course of conduct, opposing motives to good conduct; resisting the authority of Him who has a right to command; and opposing the leadings of Providence, to the injury of him who makes the resistance.
So when we are bitter, we are like a stubborn ox kicking against a piece of sharp iron, it only hurt ourselves.
Resolve in our heart to pursue peace and grace and holiness, seek reconciliation with those who have hurt us, even if they don't reconcile with us, we should pray for blessing on those who have hurt us.
We can overcome bitterness because Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
When we overcome bitterness, the reward is the joy of fellowship with our Lord Jesus.
Monday, October 01, 2007
THE DIMENSIONS OF GOD’S LOVE
Ephesians 3:17-19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
THE DIMENSIONS of the Love of Christ! It is broad as humanity, “for God so loved the world”; the length—God’s love had no date of origin, and shall have none of conclusion. God is Love, it continueth ever, indissoluble, unchangeable, a perpetual present tense. Its height—as the Flood out-topped the highest mountains, so that Love covers our highest sins. It is as high as the heaven above the earth. Its depth—Christ our Lord descended into the lowest before He rose to the highest. He has touched the bottomless pit of our sin and misery, sorrow and need. However low your fall, or lowly your lot, the everlasting arms of His love are always underneath.
The Apostle talks by hyperbole, when he prays that we may attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ. We cannot gauge Christ’s love, but we can enjoy it. Probably the only way to know the love of Christ is to begin to show it. The emotionalist, who is easily affected by appeals to the senses, does not know it; the theorist or rhapsodist does not know it, but the soul that endeavours to show the love of Christ, knows it. As Christ’s love through you broadens, lengthens, deepens, heightens, you will know the love of Christ, not intellectually, but experimentally (1 John 4:11, 12; 20, 21).
But you say, “there are people in my life whom I cannot love.” Granted, but you must distinguish between love and the emotion or feeling of love. You may not be able to feel love at the outset, but you can be willing to be the channel of Christ’s love. I cannot love, but Christ is in me, and He can. Is it too much to ask that all this should be realized in ourselves and in others? No, because God is already at work within us by His Holy Spirit, and He is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest requests or thoughts. Ask your furthest, think your highest, and the Divine Love is always infinitely in advance.
PRAYER—We thank Thee, O God, for the infinite love which Thou hast given us in Jesus Christ. We have no measure for its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths. Teach us with all saints to know more because we love more. AMEN.
By F.B. Meyer
THE DIMENSIONS of the Love of Christ! It is broad as humanity, “for God so loved the world”; the length—God’s love had no date of origin, and shall have none of conclusion. God is Love, it continueth ever, indissoluble, unchangeable, a perpetual present tense. Its height—as the Flood out-topped the highest mountains, so that Love covers our highest sins. It is as high as the heaven above the earth. Its depth—Christ our Lord descended into the lowest before He rose to the highest. He has touched the bottomless pit of our sin and misery, sorrow and need. However low your fall, or lowly your lot, the everlasting arms of His love are always underneath.
The Apostle talks by hyperbole, when he prays that we may attain to a knowledge of the knowledge-surpassing love of Christ. We cannot gauge Christ’s love, but we can enjoy it. Probably the only way to know the love of Christ is to begin to show it. The emotionalist, who is easily affected by appeals to the senses, does not know it; the theorist or rhapsodist does not know it, but the soul that endeavours to show the love of Christ, knows it. As Christ’s love through you broadens, lengthens, deepens, heightens, you will know the love of Christ, not intellectually, but experimentally (1 John 4:11, 12; 20, 21).
But you say, “there are people in my life whom I cannot love.” Granted, but you must distinguish between love and the emotion or feeling of love. You may not be able to feel love at the outset, but you can be willing to be the channel of Christ’s love. I cannot love, but Christ is in me, and He can. Is it too much to ask that all this should be realized in ourselves and in others? No, because God is already at work within us by His Holy Spirit, and He is able to do infinitely beyond all our highest requests or thoughts. Ask your furthest, think your highest, and the Divine Love is always infinitely in advance.
PRAYER—We thank Thee, O God, for the infinite love which Thou hast given us in Jesus Christ. We have no measure for its heights and depths, its breadths and lengths. Teach us with all saints to know more because we love more. AMEN.
By F.B. Meyer
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Parable of the sower
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 13:18-23
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Matthew 13:9-13
Saturday, September 08, 2007
I will shake the heaven, earth and sea
Haggai 2:6-7 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
Hebrews 12:26-28 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
The last time God’s voice shook the earth was in Exodus 19. That happened in Mount Sinai when God spoke to Moses, the mountain quaked, the Israelites were terrified and they trembled. The bible says yet once more, God will shook the earth again, this time He will shake not just mount Sinai but the nations, and the sea and the heaven. The thought of God shaking the sea brings to my mind the tsunamis that happened in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia on Dec 26th,2004, according to recent data compiled by the United Nations , a total of 229,866 people were lost, including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing.
What could shake all the earth and all nations? Could it be a great global earthquake? And we have yet to witness the shaking of the heaven. I believe the effect of this global shaking is sudden, unexpected destruction, like many who were caught by surprise in the tsunamis. Haggai 2:6-7 further says this shaking of the earth, heaven and the sea will be followed by the desire of all nations coming, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Hebrew 12;26-28 the Word says this shaking will remove things that are shaken, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. All the world’s systems and institutions that is against God will one day be shaken and destroyed. As of things that are made, they are temporary, perishable and have an expiry date. Some spend time investing in stocks, for some it is entertainment, for some it is their car, these things itself may not be sinful, but you see all these things are not lasting. The bible says in Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where and what we spend our time and effort reveals where our heart is, how do we spend our free time is a gauge of where our heart is. In life it is not how fast and beautiful you build your house, it is whether your house is built on the right foundation?
The Word is teaching us to invest in things that cannot be shaken, doing the will of God have lasting values and is a sure foundation.
Matthew 7:24-27 "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
Hebrew 12:28 exhorts us: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear
Hebrews 12:26-28 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
The last time God’s voice shook the earth was in Exodus 19. That happened in Mount Sinai when God spoke to Moses, the mountain quaked, the Israelites were terrified and they trembled. The bible says yet once more, God will shook the earth again, this time He will shake not just mount Sinai but the nations, and the sea and the heaven. The thought of God shaking the sea brings to my mind the tsunamis that happened in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia on Dec 26th,2004, according to recent data compiled by the United Nations , a total of 229,866 people were lost, including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing.
What could shake all the earth and all nations? Could it be a great global earthquake? And we have yet to witness the shaking of the heaven. I believe the effect of this global shaking is sudden, unexpected destruction, like many who were caught by surprise in the tsunamis. Haggai 2:6-7 further says this shaking of the earth, heaven and the sea will be followed by the desire of all nations coming, the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Hebrew 12;26-28 the Word says this shaking will remove things that are shaken, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. All the world’s systems and institutions that is against God will one day be shaken and destroyed. As of things that are made, they are temporary, perishable and have an expiry date. Some spend time investing in stocks, for some it is entertainment, for some it is their car, these things itself may not be sinful, but you see all these things are not lasting. The bible says in Matthew 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where and what we spend our time and effort reveals where our heart is, how do we spend our free time is a gauge of where our heart is. In life it is not how fast and beautiful you build your house, it is whether your house is built on the right foundation?
The Word is teaching us to invest in things that cannot be shaken, doing the will of God have lasting values and is a sure foundation.
Matthew 7:24-27 "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
Hebrew 12:28 exhorts us: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Knowing God
Our Lord, in defining eternal life, summed up the supreme goal of human existence: That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. And Paul revealed the one overpowering interest of his life when he wrote That I may know him. The business of the Church is God. She is purest when most engaged with God and she is astray just so far as she follows other interests, no matter how religious or humanitarian they may be. There are a thousand useful, even noble, pursuits in which the Church may engage and which may bring her the plaudits of the world but which are nevertheless unworthy of her utter devotion. Such are social activities for their own sake, philosophical pursuits divorced from Him in whom all wisdom and knowledge is hidden away, art, music, education, travel, to name a mere few. As these things come to the Christian in his pursuit of God they may have a proper and useful place in his life; but when they are chosen as ends to be followed they are and can only be cheap substitutes for the glory that excelleth.
By A.W Tozer
By A.W Tozer
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Blessed hope
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
I just love this 4 verses. The grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men, this is consistent with the whole theme of the bible, Heb 1:1-2 says “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” The main theme of the bible is Jesus Christ, and the grace of God is manifested through Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. Everything Jesus done, his ministry, his death, his resurrection and his 2nd coming, speaks of God’s grace to an undeserving people.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, we don’t belong to this present world, verse 14 says we are to be peculiar people, we don’t think and reason like most people because we have to cultivate a heavenly mindset, which is contrary to an earthly mindset. So we should feel out of place, a misfit, in this world.
What is the earthly mindset? If you live long enough in this present world, you will know it is to enjoy and be merry, live life to the fullest, develop your fullest potential, fulfill your dreams, be enriched with wealth and health in this world, and for those who are perhaps more altruistic: lets unite everyone and bring heaven down to earth.
But the heavenly mindset is different, the bible says in 1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. The world, and its lusts, will soon pass way. There is another world coming, the heavenly mindset is to prepare ourselves for the coming new world, that is why we must be sober, righteous, and godly. A church elder once said “ heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people” We Christians are to prepare ourselves for the next world. Therefore take every trial and temptation you face, with the help of prayer, as an opportunity to train yourself for the new world.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The glorious 2nd coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the coming new world. It is a blessed hope, for this hope will keep us going, this hope will give us the strength to endure and be patient. This is the hope that we know all the wrong in this world will be made right and we will see Jesus face to face. This is the purifying hope that cause us to say no to the attractiveness of the world. This is the comforting hope that know God will one day wipe away all our tears (Rev 7:17).
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. He is our Savior, we love Him because He first love us. Love is about giving, and the greatest act of love is when God gave us His only begotten Son, and Christ Jesus willingly offered His life for us. So if Jesus gave Himself to us, lets remember as Christians when we interact with others, it is about showing the love of Jesus by our giving. Yes we should convict others by telling them what God says about sins, but we should not condemn others. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16
I just love this 4 verses. The grace of God that bring salvation has appeared to all men, this is consistent with the whole theme of the bible, Heb 1:1-2 says “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” The main theme of the bible is Jesus Christ, and the grace of God is manifested through Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. Everything Jesus done, his ministry, his death, his resurrection and his 2nd coming, speaks of God’s grace to an undeserving people.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, we don’t belong to this present world, verse 14 says we are to be peculiar people, we don’t think and reason like most people because we have to cultivate a heavenly mindset, which is contrary to an earthly mindset. So we should feel out of place, a misfit, in this world.
What is the earthly mindset? If you live long enough in this present world, you will know it is to enjoy and be merry, live life to the fullest, develop your fullest potential, fulfill your dreams, be enriched with wealth and health in this world, and for those who are perhaps more altruistic: lets unite everyone and bring heaven down to earth.
But the heavenly mindset is different, the bible says in 1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. The world, and its lusts, will soon pass way. There is another world coming, the heavenly mindset is to prepare ourselves for the coming new world, that is why we must be sober, righteous, and godly. A church elder once said “ heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people” We Christians are to prepare ourselves for the next world. Therefore take every trial and temptation you face, with the help of prayer, as an opportunity to train yourself for the new world.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The glorious 2nd coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the coming new world. It is a blessed hope, for this hope will keep us going, this hope will give us the strength to endure and be patient. This is the hope that we know all the wrong in this world will be made right and we will see Jesus face to face. This is the purifying hope that cause us to say no to the attractiveness of the world. This is the comforting hope that know God will one day wipe away all our tears (Rev 7:17).
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity. He is our Savior, we love Him because He first love us. Love is about giving, and the greatest act of love is when God gave us His only begotten Son, and Christ Jesus willingly offered His life for us. So if Jesus gave Himself to us, lets remember as Christians when we interact with others, it is about showing the love of Jesus by our giving. Yes we should convict others by telling them what God says about sins, but we should not condemn others. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The necessity of good works
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Titus 1:16 says that there are those who profess to know God, who profess to be Christians, however in their works they deny God. So our good works should keep up with our profession. Churches who proclaim the Good News that our salvation is by faith in Christ, should not just end the message here. They need to preach the message that true saving faith will produce sanctification and good works in the believers’ life.
Recently while reading Paul’s epistle to Titus, I discover many exhortation to good works:
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Is our salvation then dependent on our good works? Paul gave us the answer on the same epistle:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Salvation is not by any of our works of righteousness, but by His mercy and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. However our good works is the only observable evidence of whether we are following Him or denying Him. That is why Paul wrote in Titus 1:16:“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him”
If good works are important, what are the good works that we should be doing?
Firstly we should get our motive right before doing any good works. Our motive is to love God and love people, and another important motive is we want to humbly obey God.
Having love and obedience as our motive, we will seek to do things that will build up other believers in the faith, by our actions, by our words, by our teaching. By doing so we are doing our good works to extend God’s kingdom. And to unbelievers, we will seek to lead them to know Christ.
Our good works can be very broad and cover a range of activities: it could be teaching in a Sunday school, volunteering to help in your church ministries, it could be offering financial help to others, offering words of encouragement, praying for others, proclaiming to unbelievers the Gospel, being a godly example for others, counseling others who are hurt, lovingly correcting the sins of others…if we have the desire to do good works for God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to the right ministry.
Be motivated by love and obedience, desire to be fruitful to God, and our good works will surely follow.
Titus 1:16 says that there are those who profess to know God, who profess to be Christians, however in their works they deny God. So our good works should keep up with our profession. Churches who proclaim the Good News that our salvation is by faith in Christ, should not just end the message here. They need to preach the message that true saving faith will produce sanctification and good works in the believers’ life.
Recently while reading Paul’s epistle to Titus, I discover many exhortation to good works:
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Is our salvation then dependent on our good works? Paul gave us the answer on the same epistle:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Salvation is not by any of our works of righteousness, but by His mercy and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. However our good works is the only observable evidence of whether we are following Him or denying Him. That is why Paul wrote in Titus 1:16:“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him”
If good works are important, what are the good works that we should be doing?
Firstly we should get our motive right before doing any good works. Our motive is to love God and love people, and another important motive is we want to humbly obey God.
Having love and obedience as our motive, we will seek to do things that will build up other believers in the faith, by our actions, by our words, by our teaching. By doing so we are doing our good works to extend God’s kingdom. And to unbelievers, we will seek to lead them to know Christ.
Our good works can be very broad and cover a range of activities: it could be teaching in a Sunday school, volunteering to help in your church ministries, it could be offering financial help to others, offering words of encouragement, praying for others, proclaiming to unbelievers the Gospel, being a godly example for others, counseling others who are hurt, lovingly correcting the sins of others…if we have the desire to do good works for God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to the right ministry.
Be motivated by love and obedience, desire to be fruitful to God, and our good works will surely follow.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Godliness
1 Timothy 6:3-4 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Doctrine is according to godliness. The Amplified bible translated "teaching that is in agreement with godliness". The NET bible translates as "knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness"
Yes, a correct doctrine is important, and we need to guard ourselves from false teaching. But we also need to be reminded that the knowledge of the right doctrine is to produce godliness in us. Doctrine is not to satisfy our intellectual pursuit.
Some definition of godliness I found from http://preceptaustin.org
Godliness is a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life.
Godliness is not talking godly but living godly.
Godliness reflects an attitude centered on living out one's life in God's presence with a desire motivated by love for Him and empowered by His grace to be pleasing to Him in all things.
Godliness refers to the true reverence toward God which comes from knowledge. It is a right attitude toward God and His holiness, majesty, and love
Godliness is that inner attitude of reverence which seeks to please God in every thought, word or deed.
Godliness desires to be rightly related to both God and men, and brings the sanctifying presence of God into every relationship of one's life.
You know, Lucifer has knowledge of the right doctrine, but he is proud and will not submit to God. He choose to rebel and he became Satan. So knowledge of the right doctrine alone cannot save us, we need to have the right attitude, the attitude of godliness.
Doctrine is according to godliness. The Amplified bible translated "teaching that is in agreement with godliness". The NET bible translates as "knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness"
Yes, a correct doctrine is important, and we need to guard ourselves from false teaching. But we also need to be reminded that the knowledge of the right doctrine is to produce godliness in us. Doctrine is not to satisfy our intellectual pursuit.
Some definition of godliness I found from http://preceptaustin.org
Godliness is a practical awareness of God in every aspect of life.
Godliness is not talking godly but living godly.
Godliness reflects an attitude centered on living out one's life in God's presence with a desire motivated by love for Him and empowered by His grace to be pleasing to Him in all things.
Godliness refers to the true reverence toward God which comes from knowledge. It is a right attitude toward God and His holiness, majesty, and love
Godliness is that inner attitude of reverence which seeks to please God in every thought, word or deed.
Godliness desires to be rightly related to both God and men, and brings the sanctifying presence of God into every relationship of one's life.
You know, Lucifer has knowledge of the right doctrine, but he is proud and will not submit to God. He choose to rebel and he became Satan. So knowledge of the right doctrine alone cannot save us, we need to have the right attitude, the attitude of godliness.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Lessons I learned from 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
God has saved us not according to our works, we are elected not based on our good works or our good background, it is solely by the grace of God and according to His purose that we are saved. And we are elected even before the world began, God already intended to have us saved in Christ Jesus before the world began. I find this an amazing truth.
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
God has given Christian spiritual gifts. Don't hide our gifts, use it for God's glory.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
We should be partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, so often we don't want to suffer for fear of offence toothers, we are ashamed of the Gospel. The reason why we are still left on earth is to be a witness for Christ for God's glory. So may we pray for courage and the Spirit's help to proclaim the Gospel.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
God has saved us not according to our works, we are elected not based on our good works or our good background, it is solely by the grace of God and according to His purose that we are saved. And we are elected even before the world began, God already intended to have us saved in Christ Jesus before the world began. I find this an amazing truth.
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
God has given Christian spiritual gifts. Don't hide our gifts, use it for God's glory.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Shame on us Christians who never preach the Gospel to anyone, never concern about the lost. I quote from Tozer:
"To me, it has always been difficult to understand those evangelical Christians who insist upon living in the crisis as if no crisis existed. They say they serve the Lord, but they divide their days so as to leave plenty of time to play and loaf and enjoy the pleasures of the world as well. They are at ease while the world burns....I wonder whether such Christians actually believe in the Fall of man! "We should be partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel, so often we don't want to suffer for fear of offence toothers, we are ashamed of the Gospel. The reason why we are still left on earth is to be a witness for Christ for God's glory. So may we pray for courage and the Spirit's help to proclaim the Gospel.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Very often we quote verse 15 to show the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth, however verse 14 and verse 16 are important, it says we are to rightly study God's words so that we will not strive about words with no profit. We don't study the Word to engage in carnal debate which will lead to strife and ungodliness.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
WHAT IS RELIGION?
Matthew 15:16 “And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?”
IN this chapter our Lord teaches that true Religion is certainly not a matter of eating and drinking or outward ceremony. It is the intention of the soul, the continual drawing from Christ the life-power needed for our work and ministry to others. It may be illustrated by the experience of the diver, who explores the ocean-bed, but draws upon the breeze that sweeps the ocean-surface.Our Lord did not underestimate the outward observance of the forms of religion; He set us a definite example by His attendance at the Synagogue and the Temple services, by nights spent in prayer, by constant reference to Holy Scripture—but these were only the outward and natural expression of His unbroken fellowship with His Father.
Human love does not consist merely in outward expression, but in the hidden purpose of the heart, and yet, if there be no outward expression the spring will dry up!Perhaps the two greatest definitions of pure religion are these—the first from the Old Testament: “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8) And the second from the New Testament: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) But to fulfil each of these we need the aid of the Holy Spirit.
To be truly religious is within the reach and scope of us all; but we must avail ourselves of what Jesus Christ has done to bring us to God. In Him there is absolute forgiveness for all the past, and infinite help and grace for the future. He is willing to be our Surety, Friend, and Helper. Through Him we may become partakers of the Divine Nature, and escape the corruption which is in the world through lust.
PRAYER—Give unto me, gracious Lord, the pilgrim spirit that I may be in the world and not of it. Give me Thy grace to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. May I ever walk worthy of the heavenly calling. AMEN.
By F.B. Meyer
IN this chapter our Lord teaches that true Religion is certainly not a matter of eating and drinking or outward ceremony. It is the intention of the soul, the continual drawing from Christ the life-power needed for our work and ministry to others. It may be illustrated by the experience of the diver, who explores the ocean-bed, but draws upon the breeze that sweeps the ocean-surface.Our Lord did not underestimate the outward observance of the forms of religion; He set us a definite example by His attendance at the Synagogue and the Temple services, by nights spent in prayer, by constant reference to Holy Scripture—but these were only the outward and natural expression of His unbroken fellowship with His Father.
Human love does not consist merely in outward expression, but in the hidden purpose of the heart, and yet, if there be no outward expression the spring will dry up!Perhaps the two greatest definitions of pure religion are these—the first from the Old Testament: “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.” (Micah 6:8) And the second from the New Testament: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) But to fulfil each of these we need the aid of the Holy Spirit.
To be truly religious is within the reach and scope of us all; but we must avail ourselves of what Jesus Christ has done to bring us to God. In Him there is absolute forgiveness for all the past, and infinite help and grace for the future. He is willing to be our Surety, Friend, and Helper. Through Him we may become partakers of the Divine Nature, and escape the corruption which is in the world through lust.
PRAYER—Give unto me, gracious Lord, the pilgrim spirit that I may be in the world and not of it. Give me Thy grace to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. May I ever walk worthy of the heavenly calling. AMEN.
By F.B. Meyer
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Growth in Grace
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18
The word grace is one of the key terms of Holy Scripture frequently occurring, and by the knowledge of which much of the import of the whole volume is unfolded. It signifies favor, free and unmerited. "By grace (favor) are you saved," Eph. 2:8. This is the primitive, prevailing, generic sense of the word, and is its meaning in such passages also as the following, and many others– Rom. 11:5, 6; Eph. 1:2, 6, 7; 2:7; Titus 2:11; 3:7. But as in the ordinary use of language we sometimes call the effect by the name of the cause, the word grace is often applied in Scripture to several things which are the consequences and operations of Divine favor; thus the aids of the Holy Spirit are called grace, as in that passage, "My grace is sufficient for you," 2 Cor. 12:9; also 1 Cor. 15:9, 10.
In the passage under consideration, it has a meaning somewhat different from either of these, yet related to them, and signifies holiness, as the fruit and effect of God's grace—and the exhortation to grow in grace is a beautiful, comprehensive, and instructive way of saying, grow in holiness; advance in piety. True, there is a sense in which a believer may grow in the favor of God itself, as well as in its effects. It is said of Christ in his youth, that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," Luke 2:52.
God, in his love, delights in his people on a twofold account; first, because of the work of his Son, which is upon them for justification—and secondly, because of their spiritual graces, inasmuch as these are the work of his Holy Spirit; and therefore the more he sees of this work in them, the more he must love them. On account of their relation as children, he loves them all equally; but as regards their spiritual condition, he loves them in proportion to their degrees of conformity to himself. Hence they may grow in his favor continually, that is, one person may have more in him, than another, that God loves, and that same person may have more in himself, at one time than another, that God approves. But since this supposes, as its ground, a growth in holiness, which is the object of Divine delight, it brings us to that view of growth in grace, which is the meaning of the passage, and the design of this address—I mean, advance in piety.
The explanation of the text is very instructive with regard to several general principles.
1. True religion in the soul is the work of God—it is the operation of God himself as the efficient agent, whoever and whatever may be the instrumentality. It is the grace of God in us.
2. All God's dealings with men, in regard to salvation and its benefits, are the result of pure favor. Man, as a sinner, merits nothing, and can merit nothing—it is grace that reigns throughout his whole salvation.
3. In sanctification, God's favor shines as brightly as in justification. God's grace is as rich and free in delivering us from the power of sin—as from its punishment. God as effectually blesses us, and as truly loves us in the work of his Spirit, as in the work of his Son.
4. Sanctification is a progressive work. Growth necessarily implies progress. We cannot be more justified at one time than another, for justification admits of no degrees; but we can be more sanctified at one time than another, for sanctification admits of all degrees.
5. Inasmuch as every operation of God's grace is designed to bless us, sanctification is as much a Christian's happiness as justification, since it is no less an effect of Divine grace. Consequently, to grow in holiness is to grow in happiness.
I now come to the exhortation, and admonish you to grow in grace. This implies, of course, that you have grace, for without this you cannot grow. Regeneration is incipient sanctification, sanctification is the progress of regeneration. The former is the birth of the child of God, the latter is his growth. Without life there can be no growth. Stones do not grow, for they have no vitality; and the heart of man before regeneration is compared to a stone. Are you convinced you are born again of the Spirit? That the heart of stone is changed into warm, vital flesh? It is to be feared that the reason why so many professors never grow, is because they have no principle of vitality. If you do not grow, you may question if you are born again, whether you are anything more than the picture or statue of a child.
Perhaps some will ask what are the signs of growth. Here I would remark that growth may be considered either as general, in reference to the whole work of grace in the soul, or to some particular part of it. If we consider the former, I reply, that it is evinced by a general improvement of the whole religious character; an increasing, obvious, and conscious development of the principle and power of spiritual vitality in all its appropriate functions and operations; an increase in the vigor and purity of religious affections, so that the heart is really more intensely engaged in piety; the inward life is more concentrated, sprightly, and energetic—so that the Christian has more of youthful vivaciousness in the service of God, and is actuated by a more intense and practical ardor.
In this state of GENERAL growth in grace, FAITH becomes more simple, unhesitating, and confiding; less staggered by difficulties, less beclouded by doubts and fears, and more able to disentangle itself on its way to the cross—from self-righteousness, and dependence on frames and feelings.
LOVE to God, though it may contain less of glowing emotion, has more of fixed principle; and is more prompt, resolute, and self-denying in obedience.
JOY in believing, if it has not so much occasional rapture, has more of habitual, calm, and tranquil repose.
RESIGNATION to the will of God is more absolute, and we can bear with less perturbation, agitation, and chafing of mind—the crossing of our will, and the disappointment of our hopes.
PATIENCE and meekness towards our fellow creatures and fellow Christians become more conspicuous and controlled. At first, the believer can scarcely ford a shallow of troubles—but now he can swim in a sea of them; formerly he was oppressed by the lightest injury—now he can bear a heavy load; once he could scarcely endure the unintentional offences of his friends—now he can forgive and pray for his enemies.
An increase of HUMILITY is a sure and necessary sign of spiritual growth. At first we were ready to think many worse than ourselves—now we are as ready to think all better than ourselves. Then we saw some of our defects, and they appeared small—now we see many, and they are affectingly magnified. Then we knew little but the sins of the 'conduct'—but now the corruptions of the 'heart' are continually abasing us. He who is growing in humility is growing indeed; for the growth of grace is as much downward at the root, as upwards in the spreading and towering branches. "Other virtues aspire upwards—but humility looks downwards. We say of the others, the higher they grow the better—but humility is best at the lowest. Faith and hope have a holy ambition, they look not lower than heaven, nothing can content them but an immortal crown; but humility pleases herself with abasement, and you shall find her with Job in the dust, in that school of morality. Yet even there she grows, and that in the favor of God—the deeper she roots, the higher she sprouts."
ZEAL increases with everything else, and he who grows in grace, advances in love to God's service, being more constant in attendance upon God's house, advancing from pleasure on sabbath-day ordinances—to delight in weekday ones; and from regular private prayer—to habitual ejaculatory prayer.
The beauty and purity of external HOLINESS advance in proportion to internal spirituality and heavenly-mindedness; and the profession becomes more and more free from the spots of even God's children.
CONSCIENCE, instead of becoming more dim in its vision, acquires greater power of perception to discern the criminality of even little sins—and a greater delicacy of taste to loathe them.
LIBERALITY becomes more diffusive, and covetousness is mortified by a longer acquaintance with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LOVE, that heavenly virtue, without which the greatest gifts are but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, bears not only a richer crop of blossoms—but of good ripe fruits. From loving a few, and those of our own party, we go on to the spirit of the apostle, and say, "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Those who are outgrowing the prejudices of party and of ignorance, and are rising higher and higher in the strength and stature of love, give, perhaps, the fullest proof of all, of growth in grace.
This is general growth in grace; for grace in one word comprehends all others—it is the genus of which all Christian virtues are the species. Faith is grace; penitence is grace; love is grace and so are patience, humility, and zeal—so that when we are called to grow in grace, we are not restricted to any particular disposition—but enjoined to practice them all.
by John Angell James
http://www.gracegems.org/22/growth_in_grace.htm
The word grace is one of the key terms of Holy Scripture frequently occurring, and by the knowledge of which much of the import of the whole volume is unfolded. It signifies favor, free and unmerited. "By grace (favor) are you saved," Eph. 2:8. This is the primitive, prevailing, generic sense of the word, and is its meaning in such passages also as the following, and many others– Rom. 11:5, 6; Eph. 1:2, 6, 7; 2:7; Titus 2:11; 3:7. But as in the ordinary use of language we sometimes call the effect by the name of the cause, the word grace is often applied in Scripture to several things which are the consequences and operations of Divine favor; thus the aids of the Holy Spirit are called grace, as in that passage, "My grace is sufficient for you," 2 Cor. 12:9; also 1 Cor. 15:9, 10.
In the passage under consideration, it has a meaning somewhat different from either of these, yet related to them, and signifies holiness, as the fruit and effect of God's grace—and the exhortation to grow in grace is a beautiful, comprehensive, and instructive way of saying, grow in holiness; advance in piety. True, there is a sense in which a believer may grow in the favor of God itself, as well as in its effects. It is said of Christ in his youth, that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," Luke 2:52.
God, in his love, delights in his people on a twofold account; first, because of the work of his Son, which is upon them for justification—and secondly, because of their spiritual graces, inasmuch as these are the work of his Holy Spirit; and therefore the more he sees of this work in them, the more he must love them. On account of their relation as children, he loves them all equally; but as regards their spiritual condition, he loves them in proportion to their degrees of conformity to himself. Hence they may grow in his favor continually, that is, one person may have more in him, than another, that God loves, and that same person may have more in himself, at one time than another, that God approves. But since this supposes, as its ground, a growth in holiness, which is the object of Divine delight, it brings us to that view of growth in grace, which is the meaning of the passage, and the design of this address—I mean, advance in piety.
The explanation of the text is very instructive with regard to several general principles.
1. True religion in the soul is the work of God—it is the operation of God himself as the efficient agent, whoever and whatever may be the instrumentality. It is the grace of God in us.
2. All God's dealings with men, in regard to salvation and its benefits, are the result of pure favor. Man, as a sinner, merits nothing, and can merit nothing—it is grace that reigns throughout his whole salvation.
3. In sanctification, God's favor shines as brightly as in justification. God's grace is as rich and free in delivering us from the power of sin—as from its punishment. God as effectually blesses us, and as truly loves us in the work of his Spirit, as in the work of his Son.
4. Sanctification is a progressive work. Growth necessarily implies progress. We cannot be more justified at one time than another, for justification admits of no degrees; but we can be more sanctified at one time than another, for sanctification admits of all degrees.
5. Inasmuch as every operation of God's grace is designed to bless us, sanctification is as much a Christian's happiness as justification, since it is no less an effect of Divine grace. Consequently, to grow in holiness is to grow in happiness.
I now come to the exhortation, and admonish you to grow in grace. This implies, of course, that you have grace, for without this you cannot grow. Regeneration is incipient sanctification, sanctification is the progress of regeneration. The former is the birth of the child of God, the latter is his growth. Without life there can be no growth. Stones do not grow, for they have no vitality; and the heart of man before regeneration is compared to a stone. Are you convinced you are born again of the Spirit? That the heart of stone is changed into warm, vital flesh? It is to be feared that the reason why so many professors never grow, is because they have no principle of vitality. If you do not grow, you may question if you are born again, whether you are anything more than the picture or statue of a child.
Perhaps some will ask what are the signs of growth. Here I would remark that growth may be considered either as general, in reference to the whole work of grace in the soul, or to some particular part of it. If we consider the former, I reply, that it is evinced by a general improvement of the whole religious character; an increasing, obvious, and conscious development of the principle and power of spiritual vitality in all its appropriate functions and operations; an increase in the vigor and purity of religious affections, so that the heart is really more intensely engaged in piety; the inward life is more concentrated, sprightly, and energetic—so that the Christian has more of youthful vivaciousness in the service of God, and is actuated by a more intense and practical ardor.
In this state of GENERAL growth in grace, FAITH becomes more simple, unhesitating, and confiding; less staggered by difficulties, less beclouded by doubts and fears, and more able to disentangle itself on its way to the cross—from self-righteousness, and dependence on frames and feelings.
LOVE to God, though it may contain less of glowing emotion, has more of fixed principle; and is more prompt, resolute, and self-denying in obedience.
JOY in believing, if it has not so much occasional rapture, has more of habitual, calm, and tranquil repose.
RESIGNATION to the will of God is more absolute, and we can bear with less perturbation, agitation, and chafing of mind—the crossing of our will, and the disappointment of our hopes.
PATIENCE and meekness towards our fellow creatures and fellow Christians become more conspicuous and controlled. At first, the believer can scarcely ford a shallow of troubles—but now he can swim in a sea of them; formerly he was oppressed by the lightest injury—now he can bear a heavy load; once he could scarcely endure the unintentional offences of his friends—now he can forgive and pray for his enemies.
An increase of HUMILITY is a sure and necessary sign of spiritual growth. At first we were ready to think many worse than ourselves—now we are as ready to think all better than ourselves. Then we saw some of our defects, and they appeared small—now we see many, and they are affectingly magnified. Then we knew little but the sins of the 'conduct'—but now the corruptions of the 'heart' are continually abasing us. He who is growing in humility is growing indeed; for the growth of grace is as much downward at the root, as upwards in the spreading and towering branches. "Other virtues aspire upwards—but humility looks downwards. We say of the others, the higher they grow the better—but humility is best at the lowest. Faith and hope have a holy ambition, they look not lower than heaven, nothing can content them but an immortal crown; but humility pleases herself with abasement, and you shall find her with Job in the dust, in that school of morality. Yet even there she grows, and that in the favor of God—the deeper she roots, the higher she sprouts."
ZEAL increases with everything else, and he who grows in grace, advances in love to God's service, being more constant in attendance upon God's house, advancing from pleasure on sabbath-day ordinances—to delight in weekday ones; and from regular private prayer—to habitual ejaculatory prayer.
The beauty and purity of external HOLINESS advance in proportion to internal spirituality and heavenly-mindedness; and the profession becomes more and more free from the spots of even God's children.
CONSCIENCE, instead of becoming more dim in its vision, acquires greater power of perception to discern the criminality of even little sins—and a greater delicacy of taste to loathe them.
LIBERALITY becomes more diffusive, and covetousness is mortified by a longer acquaintance with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LOVE, that heavenly virtue, without which the greatest gifts are but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, bears not only a richer crop of blossoms—but of good ripe fruits. From loving a few, and those of our own party, we go on to the spirit of the apostle, and say, "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Those who are outgrowing the prejudices of party and of ignorance, and are rising higher and higher in the strength and stature of love, give, perhaps, the fullest proof of all, of growth in grace.
This is general growth in grace; for grace in one word comprehends all others—it is the genus of which all Christian virtues are the species. Faith is grace; penitence is grace; love is grace and so are patience, humility, and zeal—so that when we are called to grow in grace, we are not restricted to any particular disposition—but enjoined to practice them all.
by John Angell James
http://www.gracegems.org/22/growth_in_grace.htm
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Sin Of Prayerlessness by Andrew Murray
What think you? Do you not begin to see that the sin of prayerlessness has had a more terrible effect than you at first supposed? It is because of this hasty and superficial converse with God that the sense of sin is so weak and that no motives have power to help you to hate and flee from sin as you ought.
Nothing, nothing except the hidden, humble, constant fellowship with God can teach you, as a child of God, to hate sin as God wants you to hate it. Nothing, nothing but the constant nearness and unceasing power of the living Christ can make it possible for you rightly to understand what sin is and to detest it. And without this deeper understanding of sin, there will be no thought of appropriating the victory which is made possible for you in Christ Jesus, and will be wrought in you by the Spirit.
O' my God, cause me to know my sin and teaching me to tarry before thee and to wait on thee till thy Spirit causes something of thy holiness to rest upon me! 0 my God, cause me to know my sin, and let this drive me to listen to the promise: 'He that abideth in him sinneth not,' and to expect the fulfillment from Thee!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
for we are fearfully and wonderfully made Ps 139:14
Thank God for giving me and my wife another daughter! she is a month old.
Friday, July 13, 2007
The LORD my Deliverer
"The Lord is my portion, says my soul.""Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us." 2 Cor. 1:10
It was a needful and precious petition the Lord Jesus taught His disciples--and which we require daily to offer--"DELIVER us from evil." We are in constant need of deliverance, exposed, as we are, to continued, varied, and potent evils, visible and invisible, temporal and spiritual, to evade and overcome which we have no native power, and can therefore hope for no self-deliverance.
But who is our true Deliverer? It is He who is our Portion, who taught us thus to pray, and who is Himself our Great Deliverer. Let us take the THREE TENSES employed by the apostle in the words at the head of this meditation, as illustrating the Lord's great deliverance of His people.
And first, there is the Lord's PAST deliverance. "Who deliverED us from so great a death." Jesus stooped from the throne of Deity to the cross of a condemned felon, to deliver us from 'so great a death,' and from the bitter pains and pangs of the 'second death,' the death that is eternal. A sin-offering for our sins, accursed with our curse, condemned by our condemnation, and dying our death, the precious blood streaming from His torn side and bursting heart made a full atonement for our vast and countless offences, effacing every syllable of the indictment that was against us, and blotting out every stain of sin that was upon us--thus having delivered us from so great a death. My soul! avail yourself of this wondrous deliverance, this perfect redemption, this free pardon; and by the application of the atoning blood to your conscience, walk in the happy enjoyment of all the blessings of a charter of salvation and celestial citizenship which Christ's deliverance makes yours.
Second, there is a PRESENT deliverance. "And He DOES deliver." In addition to the canceling of all past offences, Christ's deliverance involves our present emancipation from an unrenewed nature. To pardon our guilt and to leave us the servants of sin and the slaves of Satan would be a species of refined cruelty with which God could never be charged. Our present deliverance, then, is freedom from spiritual death, by which we become living souls, and thus we are now delivered from so great a death, and can join the apostle in "giving thanks unto the Father who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." Yes! Jesus delivers now.
Are you in any present difficulty or sorrow, need or temptation? Christ can deliver you, and deliver you now. Cry mightily to Him. He has power to deliver, fullness to supply, and a loving, sympathizing heart to comfort. Your perplexity cannot baffle His wisdom, your needs cannot exhaust His resources, your sorrow cannot distance His sympathy. He who has delivered you out of six troubles will not forsake you in the seventh. O my soul! live upon a present Savior, rejoice in a present salvation, and do not forget that God in Christ is a very present help in every time of need.
Third, He who has delivered, who does deliver, will yet deliver us in all the FUTURE of our history. Faith acquires strength for the present by a remembrance of the past deliverances of God; and from the experience of the present, it looks forward with confidence to the future--"In whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." Then, O my soul, be not over-anxious about your future. God is faithful, Jesus is unchangeable, and all that the Lord your Portion has been He is now, and He will be in all future trouble, sickness, and death--an all-sufficient, all-loving, all-faithful deliverer, never leaving nor forsaking you, until He has "delivered you out of the miseries of this sinful world, having your perfect consummation and bliss in body and soul in His eternal and everlasting kingdom." "Call upon Me in the day of trouble--I will DELIVER you, and you shall glorify Me."
By Octavius Winslow, 1870
Saturday, July 07, 2007
GOD'S UNCHANGING LOVE
"The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you."--Isaiah 54:10
There is nothing true but heaven--none unchangeable but God. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed"--the lofty and the beautiful, the strong and the attractive of created good shall decay and vanish--the earthquake of time's revolution and of human instability shaking them to the center; but God's covenant of love, and God's love of the covenant, abides forever--for God has spoken it, and it is impossible for Him to lie. Sit down, my soul, and meditate awhile upon this heart-cheering, soul-satisfying truth--the unchangeable love of your covenant God and Father. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you."
"My kindness." Oh what touching and impressive words are these! Human kindness is sweet and grateful--the kindness and love of the creature; what, then, must be divine kindness--the kindness and love of God? Oh how kind is Jesus! There is kindness in all He does and in all He says--kindness in His promises, kindness in His rebukes, kindness in what He gives, kindness in what He withholds, and kindness in what He recalls; kindness in every stroke of His rod, and kindness in every smile of His love. O! my Savior, how great Your kindness in bearing my sins, in calling me by Your effectual grace, in keeping me from falling by Your power, and in giving me a name and a place among Your saints.
"Shall not depart from you." My soul, consider the love of God for you, as everlasting love. It never did, it never will, depart. Notwithstanding your fall in Adam--your depraved nature--your constant sins and departures, the love of God continues. He may veil for a little moment the light of His countenance, may chastise and afflict you for your revoltings and backslidings; still, having loved you once, He loves you to the end. Whatever else departs, His love never will. Wealth may leave you, health may fail you, friends may forsake you, and life itself expire; but God's paternal love, and Christ's fraternal sympathy, will never, never change.
"Neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed." The covenant of peace made with Christ, on your behalf, O my soul, sealed with His blood, even the "blood of the everlasting covenant," which procured peace, speaks peace, and bequeaths peace, even "the peace of God which passes all understanding," shall never be removed. The mountains of human strength, lofty and sun-gilded--the hills of creature good, clad with verdure, and smiling with fruit--shall be removed--the strongest, the loveliest, and the dearest the first to die--but, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Amid the vicissitudes and changes of the present--the dying friends and revolving landscapes of life--cling, O my soul, to Him whose covenant never alters, whose kindness never changes; who, having loved you before all time, and loved you in all time, will love you to the end of all time--yes, when time shall be no longer. The Lord that has mercy upon you has said it.
Unconverted soul! the day will come when, if found out of Christ, you will cry to the mountains and to the rocks to cover you--but will cry in vain! Before His face of glory the heavens and the earth will flee away, and your soul will stand without a shelter or a hiding place. Escape for your life! There is one mountain, and one only, where you can find shelter from the wrath that is to come--it is Mount Calvary. Hidden there, the "Avenger of Blood" cannot reach you. No refuge but the cross--no fountain but the blood--no righteousness but Christ's--no Savior but Jesus--will meet your case. "Him that comes unto Me I will in no way cast out.''
"Just as I am! without one plea,
But that the Savior died for me,
And that You bid me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!"
by Octavius Winslow, 1872
"The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you."--Isaiah 54:10
There is nothing true but heaven--none unchangeable but God. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed"--the lofty and the beautiful, the strong and the attractive of created good shall decay and vanish--the earthquake of time's revolution and of human instability shaking them to the center; but God's covenant of love, and God's love of the covenant, abides forever--for God has spoken it, and it is impossible for Him to lie. Sit down, my soul, and meditate awhile upon this heart-cheering, soul-satisfying truth--the unchangeable love of your covenant God and Father. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you."
"My kindness." Oh what touching and impressive words are these! Human kindness is sweet and grateful--the kindness and love of the creature; what, then, must be divine kindness--the kindness and love of God? Oh how kind is Jesus! There is kindness in all He does and in all He says--kindness in His promises, kindness in His rebukes, kindness in what He gives, kindness in what He withholds, and kindness in what He recalls; kindness in every stroke of His rod, and kindness in every smile of His love. O! my Savior, how great Your kindness in bearing my sins, in calling me by Your effectual grace, in keeping me from falling by Your power, and in giving me a name and a place among Your saints.
"Shall not depart from you." My soul, consider the love of God for you, as everlasting love. It never did, it never will, depart. Notwithstanding your fall in Adam--your depraved nature--your constant sins and departures, the love of God continues. He may veil for a little moment the light of His countenance, may chastise and afflict you for your revoltings and backslidings; still, having loved you once, He loves you to the end. Whatever else departs, His love never will. Wealth may leave you, health may fail you, friends may forsake you, and life itself expire; but God's paternal love, and Christ's fraternal sympathy, will never, never change.
"Neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed." The covenant of peace made with Christ, on your behalf, O my soul, sealed with His blood, even the "blood of the everlasting covenant," which procured peace, speaks peace, and bequeaths peace, even "the peace of God which passes all understanding," shall never be removed. The mountains of human strength, lofty and sun-gilded--the hills of creature good, clad with verdure, and smiling with fruit--shall be removed--the strongest, the loveliest, and the dearest the first to die--but, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Amid the vicissitudes and changes of the present--the dying friends and revolving landscapes of life--cling, O my soul, to Him whose covenant never alters, whose kindness never changes; who, having loved you before all time, and loved you in all time, will love you to the end of all time--yes, when time shall be no longer. The Lord that has mercy upon you has said it.
Unconverted soul! the day will come when, if found out of Christ, you will cry to the mountains and to the rocks to cover you--but will cry in vain! Before His face of glory the heavens and the earth will flee away, and your soul will stand without a shelter or a hiding place. Escape for your life! There is one mountain, and one only, where you can find shelter from the wrath that is to come--it is Mount Calvary. Hidden there, the "Avenger of Blood" cannot reach you. No refuge but the cross--no fountain but the blood--no righteousness but Christ's--no Savior but Jesus--will meet your case. "Him that comes unto Me I will in no way cast out.''
"Just as I am! without one plea,
But that the Savior died for me,
And that You bid me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!"
by Octavius Winslow, 1872
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Congratulations Lee...
On the birth of the newest little addition to your family.
"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14
May God bless you, your wife and daughters Lee!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
THE BACKSLIDER'S RETURN
"Yet return again to Me, says the Lord."--Jer. 3:1
Could there be a more touching "Thus says the Lord" than this? The voice of Jesus, as it echoed over the mountains and along the valleys of our unregenerate distance from God, seeking and finding and bringing us home, was inexpressibly sweet and irresistibly gracious. But, to hear that same voice, after our many wanderings, our repeated relapses, our sad backslidings, still seeking, still inviting, still imploring us to return, though we had "played the harlot with many lovers," oh, there is music in that voice such as the heavenly minstrelsy must bend their ear to catch.
My soul, you are "bent upon backsliding, even as a backsliding heifer." Your heart is as a broken bow, treacherous to the arrow fixed upon the string, and ready for its flight. Your purposes of good formed, but thwarted; resolutions of amendment made, but broken; plans of usefulness laid, but frustrated; prayers for grace offered, but forgotten; desires and aspirations after God sent up, but, through a deceitful and wicked heart, dissolving into air. Oh! how many and aggravated have your backslidings from God been--backslidings in heart, backslidings in deed--secret wanderings, open wanderings. You have "left your first love," have "forgotten your resting-place;" and, straying from the cross, have gone back to walk no more with Jesus. Truly, your "heart is like a deceitful bow."
But, has the Lord, by some gentle movement of His grace, or by some solemn event of His providence, aroused, overtaken, arrested you? Has He set a hedge around your path, that you could not find your lovers, bringing you to reflection, to penitence, to prayer? Then, listen, O my soul, to the gracious words of your "first husband;" "Yet return again to Me, says the Lord."
Spiritual restoration implies a spiritual re-conversion. In this sense we are to interpret our Lord's words to His fallen apostle Peter--"When you are converted, strengthen your brethren,"--that is, when you are restored, recovered, turned back again, employ your restored grace, the experience you have derived, and the lessons you have learned by your fall and recovery, in strengthening your weak brethren--in warning and exhorting, in restoring and comforting those who have been alike tempted, and have alike fallen.
There is something very expressive, tender, and touching in the word--"Again." "Yet return again." It sounds like the "forgiveness of seventy times seven." Lord! I have wandered from You times without number--"Yet return again." Lord! I have so often sinned and repented--"Yet return again." Lord! You have received and forgiven me more than seventy times seven--"Yet return again." Lord! I come confessing the same sins, deploring the same backslidings, acknowledging the same self-will and base ingratitude--"Yet return again to me, says the Lord." Then, Lord! I come with weeping, and mourning, and confession, since Your tenderness, grace, and changeless love, and outstretched hand bid me.
"Return to Me."
My soul, rest not until you rest in Jesus. Let nothing come between your returning heart and your advancing, loving, forgiving Father. There is no true return of a backsliding believer but that which takes him past his repentance, past his tears, past his confessions, past his amendments, past his minister, and brings him at once close to Christ. There is no healing of the hurt, no binding up of the wound, no cleansing, no peace, no comfort, no joy, but as the soul comes to the blood, and nestles once more within the very heart of Jesus.
"Return unto ME."
Could there be a more touching "Thus says the Lord" than this? The voice of Jesus, as it echoed over the mountains and along the valleys of our unregenerate distance from God, seeking and finding and bringing us home, was inexpressibly sweet and irresistibly gracious. But, to hear that same voice, after our many wanderings, our repeated relapses, our sad backslidings, still seeking, still inviting, still imploring us to return, though we had "played the harlot with many lovers," oh, there is music in that voice such as the heavenly minstrelsy must bend their ear to catch.
My soul, you are "bent upon backsliding, even as a backsliding heifer." Your heart is as a broken bow, treacherous to the arrow fixed upon the string, and ready for its flight. Your purposes of good formed, but thwarted; resolutions of amendment made, but broken; plans of usefulness laid, but frustrated; prayers for grace offered, but forgotten; desires and aspirations after God sent up, but, through a deceitful and wicked heart, dissolving into air. Oh! how many and aggravated have your backslidings from God been--backslidings in heart, backslidings in deed--secret wanderings, open wanderings. You have "left your first love," have "forgotten your resting-place;" and, straying from the cross, have gone back to walk no more with Jesus. Truly, your "heart is like a deceitful bow."
But, has the Lord, by some gentle movement of His grace, or by some solemn event of His providence, aroused, overtaken, arrested you? Has He set a hedge around your path, that you could not find your lovers, bringing you to reflection, to penitence, to prayer? Then, listen, O my soul, to the gracious words of your "first husband;" "Yet return again to Me, says the Lord."
Spiritual restoration implies a spiritual re-conversion. In this sense we are to interpret our Lord's words to His fallen apostle Peter--"When you are converted, strengthen your brethren,"--that is, when you are restored, recovered, turned back again, employ your restored grace, the experience you have derived, and the lessons you have learned by your fall and recovery, in strengthening your weak brethren--in warning and exhorting, in restoring and comforting those who have been alike tempted, and have alike fallen.
There is something very expressive, tender, and touching in the word--"Again." "Yet return again." It sounds like the "forgiveness of seventy times seven." Lord! I have wandered from You times without number--"Yet return again." Lord! I have so often sinned and repented--"Yet return again." Lord! You have received and forgiven me more than seventy times seven--"Yet return again." Lord! I come confessing the same sins, deploring the same backslidings, acknowledging the same self-will and base ingratitude--"Yet return again to me, says the Lord." Then, Lord! I come with weeping, and mourning, and confession, since Your tenderness, grace, and changeless love, and outstretched hand bid me.
"Return to Me."
My soul, rest not until you rest in Jesus. Let nothing come between your returning heart and your advancing, loving, forgiving Father. There is no true return of a backsliding believer but that which takes him past his repentance, past his tears, past his confessions, past his amendments, past his minister, and brings him at once close to Christ. There is no healing of the hurt, no binding up of the wound, no cleansing, no peace, no comfort, no joy, but as the soul comes to the blood, and nestles once more within the very heart of Jesus.
"Return unto ME."
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Spiritual vomit
"He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever
confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13
True penitential confession is joined with reformation. That
confession of sin which carries forgiveness of sin with it, is
attended with serious desires, and earnest endeavors of
reformation. Confession of sin must be joined with forsaking
of sin—or all is lost. God will never cross the book, He will
never draw the red lines of Christ's blood over the black lines
of our transgressions—unless confessing and forsaking of sin,
goes hand in hand. He who does not forsake his sin, as well
as confess it, forsakes the benefit of his confession.
Indeed, there is no real confession of sin, where there is no
real forsaking of sin. It is not enough for us to confess the
sins we have committed—but we must peremptorily resolve
against the committing again the sins we have confessed.
We must desire as freely to forego our sins, as we do desire
God to forgive us our sins.
Confession of sin is a spiritual vomit. Now you know, a man
who is sick in his stomach, is heartily willing to be rid of that
load on his stomach; and so a man who is real in his confession
of sin, is as heartily willing to be rid of his sin, that lies as a
load upon his conscience, as any sick man can be heartily
willing to be rid of that load that lies upon his stomach.
The penitential confessor does as heartily desire to be delivered
from the power of his sins—as he does desire to be delivered
from the sting and punishment of his sins.
Excerpt from Cabinet of Choice Jewels
By Thomas Brooks, 1669
confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13
True penitential confession is joined with reformation. That
confession of sin which carries forgiveness of sin with it, is
attended with serious desires, and earnest endeavors of
reformation. Confession of sin must be joined with forsaking
of sin—or all is lost. God will never cross the book, He will
never draw the red lines of Christ's blood over the black lines
of our transgressions—unless confessing and forsaking of sin,
goes hand in hand. He who does not forsake his sin, as well
as confess it, forsakes the benefit of his confession.
Indeed, there is no real confession of sin, where there is no
real forsaking of sin. It is not enough for us to confess the
sins we have committed—but we must peremptorily resolve
against the committing again the sins we have confessed.
We must desire as freely to forego our sins, as we do desire
God to forgive us our sins.
Confession of sin is a spiritual vomit. Now you know, a man
who is sick in his stomach, is heartily willing to be rid of that
load on his stomach; and so a man who is real in his confession
of sin, is as heartily willing to be rid of his sin, that lies as a
load upon his conscience, as any sick man can be heartily
willing to be rid of that load that lies upon his stomach.
The penitential confessor does as heartily desire to be delivered
from the power of his sins—as he does desire to be delivered
from the sting and punishment of his sins.
Excerpt from Cabinet of Choice Jewels
By Thomas Brooks, 1669
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