An apostolic face and a Judas heart (Letters of J. C. Philpot) Many think that a minister is exempt from such coldness, deadness, and barrenness, as private Christians feel. And the hypocritical looks and words of many of Satan’s ministers favor this delusion. Holiness is so much on their tongues, and on their faces, that […]
The believer’s eternal confession! (John MacDuff, “The Night Watches”) “By the Grace of God — I am what I am!” 1 Corinthians 15:10 This is the believer’s eternal confession! Grace found him a rebel against God — it leaves him a son of God! Grace found him wandering at the gates of Hell — it […]
“Yes, he is altogether lovely.” Solomon’s Song 5:16. “And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1 Until God by His Spirit quickens the soul into spiritual life, there must be a determined rejection of Christ. However a man may receive Him into his judgment, the inward bias of his […]
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (J. C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”) Not your strength, not your wisdom, not your prayers, not your experience; but “My grace”—My free, My matchless grace, independent of all works and efforts, independent of everything in […]
Salvation (J. C. Philpot, “The Accuser of the Brethren) And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!” Revelation 7:10 The sweetest song that heaven ever proclaimed, the most blessed note that ever melted the soul, is salvation. Saved FROM . . . death […]
There are many times when it seems as if this present world could satisfy us—when we build up our earthly paradises, and seek as it were ease and rest here below. But the voice soon comes, “Arise, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted.” Micah 2:10 How continually in the […]
“The just shall live by faith.” –Romans 1:17 A life of faith in Christ is as necessary to our present and experimental salvation, as his death upon the cross was to our past and actual salvation. If you are alive to what you are as a poor fallen sinner, you see yourself surrounded by enemies, […]
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”Psalm 25:14 There is no truth more offensive to the carnal mind, nor one more sweet to those taught of God than this—that true religion is of a spiritual and supernatural character. That God should dwell in man; […]
It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matthew 9:12 A physician is useless without a case; and the harder the case, the wiser and better physician we need. Thus a guilty conscience is a case for atoning blood, a wounded spirit for healing balm, a filthy garment for a justifying […]
Even your own relatives think you are almost insane (J. C. Philpot, “The Abiding Comforter” 1858) “The Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.” John 14:17 The world—that is, the world dead in sin, and the world dead in profession—men destitute of the life and power of God—must […]