Nov 20
29
This is the saint’s inheritance!
J.C.Philpot
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of
God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in
His sufferings in order that we may also share in
His glory.” Romans 8:17
This is the especial blessedness of being a child of God:
that death, which puts a final extinguisher on all the
hopes and happiness of all the unregenerate—gives him
the fulfilment of all his hopes and the consummation
of all his happiness—for it places him in possession of
“an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that
fades not away, reserved in heaven.”
In this present earthly life, we have sometimes sips
and tastes of sonship, feeble indeed and interrupted;
yet are they so far pledges of an inheritance to come.
But this life is only an introduction to a better. In this
life we are but children—but in the life to come, we shall
be put into full possession of the eternal inheritance.
And what is this? Nothing less than God Himself.
“Heirs of God!” says the Apostle. God Himself is
the inheritance of His people—yes, He Himself in
all His glorious perfections . . .
all the love of God,
all the goodness of God,
all the holiness of God,
all His happiness, bliss, and blessedness,
all His might, majesty, and glory, in
all the blaze of one eternal, unclouded day!
This is the saint’s inheritance!
Let us press on by faith and prayer to
win this eternal and glorious crown!
There is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life!
(Charles Spurgeon)
“Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age!” Matthew 28:20
It is well that there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is well that there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul, do not set your affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures—but set your heart upon Him who abides forever faithful to you. Do not build your house upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world—but found your hopes upon this rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably secure!
My soul, I charge you—lay up your treasure in the only secure cabinet; store your jewels where you can never lose them. Put your all in Christ; set . . .
all your affections on His person,
all your hope in His merit,
all your trust in His efficacious blood,
all your joy in His presence,
and so you may laugh at loss and defy difficulties.
Remember that all the flowers in the world’s garden wither and die—and the day is coming when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth. Death’s black extinguisher must soon put out your candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight—when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon roll between you and all you have!
So wed your heart to Him who will never leave you. Trust yourself with Him who will go with you through the black and surging current of death’s stream, and who will land you safely on the celestial shore, and make you sit with Him in heavenly places forever!
Go, sorrowing son of affliction—tell your secret troubles to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Trust all your concerns with Him . . .
who never can be taken from you,
who will never leave you, and
who will never let you leave Him, even “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
“I am with you always,” is enough for my soul to live upon—though all others forsake me!
Poor, naked, penniless, worthless?
(Octavius Winslow, “Morning Thoughts”)
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
There is the special, direct, and effectual call of
the Spirit, in the elect of God, without which all
other calling is in vain. The Spirit effectually
works in the soul with an inward, supernatural,
secret power. There is an energy put forth with
the call, which . . .
awakens the conscience,
breaks the heart,
convinces the judgment,
opens the eye of the soul, and
pours a new and an alarming sound
upon the hitherto deaf ear.
Mark the blessed effects . . .
the scales fell from the eyes,
the veil is torn from the mind,
the deep fountains of evil in the heart are broken up.
The sinner sees himself as . . .
lost and undone
without pardon,
without a righteousness,
without acceptance,
without a God,
without a Saviour,
without a hope!
Awful condition!
“What shall I do to be saved?” is his cry! “I am
a wretch undone! I look within me, all is dark
and vile; I look around me, everything seems
but the image of my woe; I look above me, I
see only an angry God. Whichever way I look,
is hell! And were God now to send me there,
just and right would He be.”
But, blessed be God, no poor soul that ever
uttered such language, prompted by such
feelings, ever died in despair! That faithful
Spirit who begins the good work, effectually
carries it on, and completes it.
Presently He leads him to the cross of Jesus
and unveils to his glimmering eye of faith a . . .
suffering,
wounded,
bleeding,
dying Saviour;
and yet a Saviour with outstretched arms!
That Saviour speaks; oh, did ever music sound
so melodious? “All this I do for you . . .
this cross for you,
these sufferings for you,
this blood for you,
these stretched out arms for you.
Come unto Me, all you that labor and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Look
unto Me, and be saved!
Are you lost? I can save you!
Are you guilty? I can cleanse you!
Are you poor? I can enrich you!
Are you sunk low? I can raise you!
Are you naked? I can clothe you!
Have you nothing to bring with you?
No price?
No money?
No goodness?
No merit?
I can and will take you to Me, just as you are . . .
poor,
naked,
penniless,
worthless;
for such I came to seek,
for such I came to die.”
“Lord, I believe,” exclaims the poor convinced soul!
You are just the Saviour that I need. I needed one
that could and would save me . . .
with all my vileness,
with all my rags,
with all my poverty.
I needed one that would . . .
save me fully,
save me freely,
save me as an act of mere unmerited, undeserved
grace! I have found Him whom my soul loves! and
will be His through time, and His through eternity!”
Thus effectually does the blessed Spirit call a sinner,
by His especial, invincible, and supernatural power,
out of darkness into marvellous light!
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
If Jesus had not been their Saviour, their Shepherd, and their Shield!
(John Newton)
The gracious purposes to which the Lord makes the sense and feeling of our depravity subservient, are manifold.
Hereby His own power, wisdom, faithfulness and love — are more signally displayed.
His power is displayed — in maintaining His own work in the midst of such opposition, like a spark burning in the water, or a bush unconsumed in the flames.
His wisdom is displayed in defeating and controlling all the devices which Satan — who, from his knowledge of the evil of our nature, is encouraged to practice his wily arts against us.
The unchangeableness of the Lord’s love, and the riches of His mercy, are likewise more illustrated, by the multiplied pardons He bestows upon His people — than if they needed no forgiveness at all.
Hereby the Lord Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul; all boasting is effectually excluded; and the glory of a full and free salvation is ascribed to Him alone.
After a long experience of their own deceitful hearts, after repeated proofs of their weakness, wilfulness, ingratitude, and insensibility — they find that none of these things can separate them from the love of God — and Jesus becomes more and more precious to their souls. They love much — because much has been forgiven them.
They dare not, they will not ascribe anything to themselves, but are glad to acknowledge that they would have perished a thousand times over — if Jesus had not been their Savior, their Shepherd, and their Shield.
When they were wandering — He brought them back.
When they were fallen — He raised them.
When they were wounded — He healed them.
When they were fainting — He revived them.
In a word, some of the clearest proofs they have had of His excellence, have been occasioned by the mortifying proofs they have had of their own vileness. They would not have known so much of Him — if they had not known so much of themselves!
These are some of the advantages and good fruits which the Lord enables us to obtain from that bitter root, indwelling sin.
Toys and playthings of the religious babyhouse!
(J.C. Philpot, “The Good Shepherd and His Work”)
“I will feed My flock.” Ezekiel 34:15
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word–that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2
The only real food of the soul–must be of God’s own appointing, preparing and communicating.
You can never deceive a hungry child. You may give it a plaything to still its cries. It may serve for a few minutes; but the pains of hunger are not to be removed by a doll. A toy horse will not allay the cravings after the mother’s milk.
So it is with babes in grace–a hungry soul cannot feed upon playthings.
Altars,
robes,
ceremonies,
candlesticks,
bowings,
mutterings,
painted windows,
intoning priests, and
singing men and women–
these dolls and wooden horses–these toys and playthings of the religious babyhouse, cannot feed the soul that, like David, cries out after the living God. (Psalm 42:2)
Christ, the bread of life, the manna that came down from Heaven–is the only food of the believing soul. (John 6:51)
“Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart!” Jeremiah 15:16
Endless, sinless, sorrowless immortality!
(John MacDuff, a prayer)
“Weeping may endure for a night–but joy cometh in the morning!” Psalm 30:5
Here, Lord, I have “no continuing city.” I would not desire to live here always.
Change is the portion of my earthly pilgrimage. Lord, wean me from this uncertain world!
Bring me to live under the influence of eternal realities. I rejoice to think of the happy myriads already in glory–safe in the presence of the Master they love, with every tear drop wiped away. May the thought of that endless, sinless, sorrowless immortality reconcile me to all of earth’s severest discipline.
Let me not murmur under the heaviest cross–in the prospect of such a crown. Let me not refuse to pass cheerfully through the hottest furnace which is to refine and purify me for this exceeding and eternal weight of glory! Allow me to bear with calm serenity, whatever cross You see fit to lay upon me.
“They will be His people–and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain–for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4
Universal nonsense!
(Don Fortner)
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
Where does the Word of God proclaim . . .
an atonement that doesn’t atone,
a redemption that doesn’t redeem,
a deliverance that doesn’t deliver,
a ransom that doesn’t set free,
a Savior who doesn’t save?
Nowhere!
Universal redemption is no redemption at all!
Universal redemption is universal nonsense!
“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” Ephesians 5:25
“I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!” Galatians 2:20