Jul 25
1
The natural man may express thanksgiving for what he has in his hand; but the believer is thankful for what he has in his heart and what he has in Christ, even if he has nothing in his hand.
Don Fortner
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.”
Matthew Henry
“In Adam All Die”
1 Corinthians 15:22
Here are four words which reveal what happened when our father Adam sinned in the garden. These four words must be understood. They are so necessary, so vital that I think I can safely and accurately say, until these four simple words are understood there is no understanding of anything else taught in the Bible. This is what God the Holy Spirit tells us about the sin and death of our father Adam and of all the human race in him. May he grant us grace and wisdom to understand it – “In Adam all die!”
When God gave his law to Adam, the sanction of the law was death: physical death; spiritual (moral) death, and eternal death. “The wages of sin is death!” As soon as Adam sinned, he and all his posterity were stripped of that immortality of body which God had given him in creation and became mortals, subject to and infested with all the corruptions of sickness, disease, and death. A spiritual, moral death seized his being, a spiritual, moral corruption and death which is passed upon all men, generation after generation. “In Adam all die!”
Because of Adam’s sin, and our sinning in him, the understanding of man is darkened. – His mind and conscience are defiled. – We are filled with inordinate affections. – Our wills, by nature, are biased toward everything that is evil. We have a natural taste and relish for sin! – Yet, until regenerated and saved by the grace of God, all the sons and daughters of Adam are to every good work lifeless and reprobate. Everyone by nature is born in a state of spiritual death, being dead in trespasses and in sins. This is the language used by the Holy Spirit to describe man’s lost condition (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3).
As we were all born sinners, in a state and condition of spiritual death, we were all also born “children of wrath,” under the curse of God’s holy law and subject to eternal death. Eternal death is the just wage and retribution paid to sin by God. Eternal death is the wrath of God revealed against all unrighteousness. It is that which shall forever torment the children of disobedience, unless we are saved from it by the obedience and death of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the last Adam. This eternal death is the curse which Zechariah saw in his vision, as a flying roll flying over the whole earth, by which all the wicked are cut off forever (Zech. 5:1-3).
God’s elect are saved from this universal curse, because (and only because) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law and delivered us from the wrath to come. He is made of God unto us both righteousness and redemption; and we are now made righteous in him.
Don Fortner
Christians! we can turn now aside and see this great sight—death closing the lips of the Lord of life—a borrowed grave containing the tenantless body of the Creator of all worlds! Is death to hold that prey? Is the grave to retain in gloomy custody that immaculate frame? Is His living temple to lie there an inglorious ruin, like other crumbling wrecks of mortality? The question of our eternal life or eternal death was suspended on the reply! If death succeeds in chaining down the illustrious Victim, our hopes of everlasting life are gone forever. In vain can these dreary portals of death be ever again unbarred for the children of fallen humanity. Jesus has gone there as their surety-Saviour. If His suretyship be accepted—if He meet and fulfil all the requirements of an outraged law, the gates of the dismal prison-house of death will, and must be opened.
John MacDuff
The following is from
Spurgeon’s sermon,
“The Messages of Our Lord’s Love” #2060. Mark 16:7
Do you know what communion with Christ is?
Or are you altogether taken up with doctrines
about Him, or with ceremonies that concern
Him? If so, yours is a poor life.
The joy of the Christian life is to know and to
speak with and to dwell with the Lord Jesus.
Do you understand this?
I charge you, do not be satisfied
until you come to personal and
intimate fellowship with your Lord.
Perpetual love!
(The following is from “The Gospel
in Exodus” by Henry Law)
Believer, Jesus’ love towards you is perpetual.
He loved you first when, in the councils of
eternity, He received you into His heart.
He loved you truly when, in the fullness of time,
he took upon Himself your curse, and drained
your hell deep dues.
He loved you tenderly when He showed you,
by the Spirit, His hands and His feet, and
whispered to you that you were His.
He loves you faithfully while He ceases not
to intercede in your behalf, and to scatter
blessings on your person and your soul.
He will love you intensely in heaven when
you are manifested as His purchase and
crowned as His bride.
Drink hourly of this cup of his love.
Do not raise the objection, if He thus
loves me, why am I thus? Why is my
path so rugged, and my heart like flint?
You will soon know that your bitterest
trials and your sorest pains are sure
tokens of His love.
The father corrects because he loves.
In anxious care the physician deeply
probes the wounds.
Thus Jesus makes earth hard, that you
may long for heaven’s holy rest.
He shows you your self vileness that
you may prize His cleansing blood.
He allows you to stumble that you
may cleave more closely to His side.
He makes the world a blank that you
may seek all comfort in Himself.
He hides His face that you may look towards Him.
He is silent, that you may cry more loudly.
He saves from real hell, by casting into seeming hell.
But His love fails not. All His dealings
are love’s everflowing, overflowing tide.
“I am He who liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of Hell and of death!” Revelation 1:18
John MacDuff
An enthroned Saviour speaks! “I am the LIVING One! Others have passed away — but I ever live, and ever love! I am now living — a personal Saviour! Are you stooping over some treasured house of clay which the whirlwind has made a mass of ruins? I Myself roused the whirlwind from its chamber! I Myself appointed the startling dispensation. I Myself ordered the shroud, and prepared the grave! Do not let ‘accident,’ ‘chance,’ or ‘fate,’ enter into the vocabulary of your sorrow. I am the Lord of death — as well as of life. I have the keys of ‘Hell and of death‘ suspended at My belt. The tomb is never unlocked — but by Me. Let others talk of the might of the King of Terrors — he has no might, but by My permission!”
More than this, mourning one! “I was DEAD. I Myself once entered that gloomy portico! I sanctified and consecrated it by My presence! I was a tenant of the tomb. This now glorified body — was once laid by human hands in a borrowed grave!”
Can you dread to walk the dark Valley which was trodden by your Lord — to encounter the ‘last enemy,’ which He fought and conquered. Death! It has been converted by Him — into a “parenthesis in endless life.”
“I am He who was DEAD;” “I Am He who lives.” What more could the Christian desire — than this twofold assurance? On the Day of Atonement of old, the blood was sprinkled alike on the mercy seat; the voice of blood arose from the floor below, and the mercy seat above. So it is with the voice of our Elder Brother’s blood. It cried first from earth beneath — and now from Heaven. His dying love, is now as ever — living, imperishable and immutable as His own being!
As the Rainbow in the material skies can never cease to appear so long as the present laws of nature continue, and there is a sun in the heavens; so the Rainbow of the Everlasting Covenant and all its blessings can only fail when Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, ceases to shine and ceases to be! With such a Rainbow over-arching the future, one limb resting amid the cloud-lands of life — and the other melting its hues into the deeper shadows of the Valley of Death — say, “I will fear no evil, for You, O SAVIOUR GOD, are with me, Your rod and Your staff comfort me.”
DEAD TO THE LAW
Another of my well-meaning friends has written to me, trying to persuade me that, though I am redeemed by Christ, justified by his blood and saved by his grace, I am still under the law. Will proud, sinful flesh never cease to seek righteousness by the law? What a proud, self-righteous fool that man must be who says, “I live by the law”! The law demands, perfection, not sincerity, not good intentions, not moral uprightness, not pious actions, but perfection! “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” “It is written, cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” To live under the law is to live in damnation!
It is my heart’s great joy to know that in Christ every believer is free from the law. What does the Scripture say? “We are not under the law, but under grace.” “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” Paul could not have used more emphatic language. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. If we are in Christ, we are free from the law!
Free from the law,
O happy condition!
Jesus hath bled and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.
Not only are we free from the law; but in Christ we are dead to the law. “My brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ.” The law of God demanded death upon every transgressor. And the sentence of the law has been executed upon all of God’s elect in Christ, our Substitute. When our Lord was crucified, we were crucified in him. The law and justice of God demanded death; and our great Substitute has satisfied that demand for us. When Christ died, we died. The law has no more claim upon us! We are dead to the law! It cannot demand anything from us, because we are dead to it. It cannot execute any punishment upon us, because we are dead to it. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”
Don Fortner
Christ’s love-letters
(C.H.Spurgeon)
“ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.“ John
5:39
Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the
Bible. He is the constant theme of its sacred pages; from
first to last — they testify of Him!
We catch a glimpse of Him in the promise of the woman’s seed;
we see Him typified in the ark of Noah;
we walk with Abraham, as He sees Messiah’s day;
we dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious
promise;
we hear the venerable Israel talking of the coming Shiloh; and
in the numerous types of the law, we find the Redeemer abundantly
foreshadowed.
Prophets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way — they all stand as
the cherubim did over the ark — desiring to look within, and to read the
mystery of God’s great atoning sacrifice!
Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord — the one pervading
subject. It is not a single gem here and there, or dust of
gold thinly scattered — but here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the
whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified, and even its
closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer’s name!
We should always read Scripture in this light — we should consider the Word to
be as a mirror, into which Christ looks down from heaven. And then we, looking
into it, see His face reflected as in a mirror — darkly, it is true — but still
in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing Him — as we shall see
Him face to face!
This volume contains Christ’s love-letters to us, perfumed by
His love. These pages are the garments of our King, and they all smell of
myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Scripture is the royal chariot in which Jesus
rides, and it is paved with love for His children. The Scriptures are the swaddling
bands of the holy child Jesus — unroll them and you find your Saviour!
The quintessence of the Word of God — is Christ!
There is a virtue in the death of Jesus, so precious, so mighty, that it has resistless power with God. Whenever the poor sinner presents it, there is new chorus to the hymns on high; “again they say Hallelujah.” How important is it, that this truth should be as a sun without a speck before us! Hence the Spirit records, that when Noah shed the blood which represented Christ, “The Lord smelled a sweet savour.” Thus the curtains of God’s pavilion are thrown back; and each attribute appears rejoicing in redemption. The Lamb is offered, and there is fragrance throughout heaven. O my soul, these are blessed tidings. They show the irresistible plea, by which we may obtain pardon, and every needful grace.
Henry Law
Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ revealed in words beginning with the Letter S
1Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
When asked to give a reason for the hope within us here is, I pray, a helpful way to briefly declare the gospel in declaring how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. All reveal aspects of The One True Saviour of sinners. Our God and our Saviour.
Sovereign Daniel 4;35, Psalm 115:3 “I will and they shall” declares the sovereignty and the exercise of that power John 17:2
Saviour Matt. 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Successful Is. 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Sufficient – This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased. Heb. 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Sacrifice 2Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Satisfaction Is. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Spirit filled Saviour John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Sent by the Father John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Subject of salvation 1Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Shining in the hearts in the new birth 2Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Surety of the eternal covenant Heb. 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Isaiah 42:6, 49:8
Slain Lamb John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Rev 5:6 Zechariah 13:7
Sin bearer 1Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Sacred one consecrated for the work of redemption Heb. 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Shalom our peace with God made through His blood. Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph. 2:14 For he is our peace,
Safe and reconciled our refuge from the storm You cannot trust Him too strongly Isaiah 4:6
Salted sacrifice Numbers 18:19; 25:12 Covenant of peace is a covenant of salt.
Samaritan saving and delivering. Coming to our place of need saving from enemies and death and carrying His own to His inn (church) Luke 10:25-37
Sanctified – set apart by God Almighty for this purpose from eternity John 17
Sanctifier Heb. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Sanguine (stained with blood) Is. 63:2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Scripture fulfilling. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
All the promises of God in Him are yea and in Him amen unto the glory of God by us.
Seal of the covenant Isaiah 42 49 Hebrews 13:20
Secret revealed Psa. 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Eph. 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Sword of God’s justice sheathed in the Son on the cross Zech. 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
Seen of angels – at His birth, temptation, agony in the garden, at His resurrection, exaltation, now singing the 7 fold declaration.
Rev. 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Seated on the throne of glory
Heb. 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
The sweet scent – the aroma of Christ speaks of all these truths as One glorious God and Saviour of sinners.
“This fountain so dear, he’ll freely impart;
Unlocked by the spear, it gushed from the heart,
With blood and with water; the first to atone,
To cleanse us the latter; the fountain’s but one.”