Nov 26
10
God’s Law and The Gospel of His Dear Son are both perfect. One perfectly condemns and the other perfectly saves! – Copied
“The difference between true and false repentance lies in this: the man who truly repents cries out against his heart; but the other, as Eve, against the serpent, or something else.
John Bunyan
LAST TESTIMONY OF T. T. SHIELDS 1873-1955
Thomas T. Shields pastored Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada for many years. These are some of his final words:
I have been a pastor since 1899(?). In all that time I have had but one message, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” and I have no other message now. I believe this poor sinner’s many—oh so many!—sins have all been washed away by His precious blood, and that He has given me eternal life. In this hope I have lived and in this hope I die. “Ere since by faith I saw the stream, Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme and shall be till I die!” I have had a stormy life. I have made some enemies, but could I reach their eyes and ears, I would beg them to believe that I have been zealous for the gospel. I regret nothing of my contention for the faith.
When I look at myself I am ashamed. When I look at God’s holy law I am condemned. When I look at God’s justice I despair. When I look into the gospel I grow bold: for I see pardon obtained, righteousness wrought out, salvation finished, and justice satisfied: then I am filled with hope. For God is just, and the justifier of him, even the ungodly, who believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:26.
William Mason
“BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM”
“By the grace of God I am what I am!”
(1st Corinthians 15:10)
The true Christian is sensible and mindful of indwelling sin. He confesses that in everything he comes exceedingly short, and that his best services are not only defective—but defiled. He accounts himself as an unprofitable servant—and is abased in his own eyes. He knows that all that distinguishes him from the vilest of men—is the free grace of God!
He derives all his hope and comfort, as well as his strength—from Jesus, whom he has known, received and loved, and to whom he has committed his soul. He renounces all confidence in the flesh, and esteems all things as loss—compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ his Lord, for whose sake he has lost all things—considering them rubbish, that he may gain Christ!
John Newton
“And Elijah said to them, ‘Take the prophets of Baal; Let not one of them escape! ‘And they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon, and slew them there.” 1 Kings 18:40
Elijah may be called the iron prophet; he was a man stern and brave, who flinched not to deliver his Master’s message at all hazards. It was fit that such a man should be raised up just at that time, for the Sidonian queen, Jezebel, was a woman of imperious spirit, superstitious to the last degree, and resolute in carrying out her will; ruling Ahab with sovereign sway, she had issued her mandate that the prophets of Jehovah should be slain, a mandate which was all too well obeyed.
None could stand before this tigress until Elijah came, and dared her malice to do its worst. That lone man, of heroic soul, stemmed the fearful torrent of idolatry, and like a rock in mid-current, firmly stood his ground. He, alone and single-handed, was more than a match for all the priests of the palace and the groves, even as one lion scatters a flock of sheep.
On the occasion of our text, you will remember that he had proved the prophets of Baal to be liars and pretenders, and then, like a practical man as he was, he went on to the natural conclusion. The law of Israel was, “The prophet who shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die;” and, therefore, the case being proved before all men, Elijah became himself the executioner; he bade the people seize the impostors, and he himself purpled the Kishon with their blood. “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape,” was the thundering voice of the prophet of fire. The man did his Master’s will thoroughly, never dreaming of compromise. Perhaps it was for this reason that he, with but one other of woman born, ascended to Heaven by an unusual road. The God who made him so grandly faithful, had determined that he who passed through the world differently from other men, should pass out of it differently, and he who had in life flamed like a seraph, should in a chariot of fire be carried to his reward! I am not, however, about to go further into the details of that matter, but would seek instruction from its main idea.
Brethren and sisters, the spiritual teaching of such an utterance as this is far-reaching; there is a lesson in it which might be turned to many accounts, for like the cherubic sword at the gate of Eden, it turns every way. One use of it must suffice for this morning: but at the same time, as a hint of how it might be employed, we would observe that it has a distinct bearing upon the present condition of the church of God.
C.H.Spurgeon
THE PROPHET
Henry Law, 1858
“ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;“ Deut. 18:15
All fullness dwells in Christ. Reader, come ponder—praise—admire—adore Him. Those who know Him, never can commend enough. Ignorance alone neglects—despises—disesteems Him.
The neediest of needy sinners find all supply in Him. He is salvation’s overflowing well. He fills all vessels, so that they can hold no more. He is a treasure-house, in which gold never fails.
Let the surface of this truth be touched. You are sin-soiled. Here is a fountain of all-cleansing blood. Wash, and be whiter, than the spotless snow. Satan, and SELF, and life-long trespasses condemn you. Here is Jesus’ wounded side, presenting an acquitting plea. Your best obedience is a filthy rag. Here is the righteousness of God—a perfect covering—a glorious robe. Your heart by nature is a lifeless stone. Christ sends His Spirit, and the entrance is life. He is a PRIEST, offering His blood—living to intercede—pouring down blessings. He is a KING—ruling above—within—around. He is a PROPHET, giving all knowledge—leading in wisdom’s paths—diffusing floods of light—teaching salvation’s lessons.
It is this latter office, which now claims special thought. Let us approach it by enquiring, what man’s state must be, unless rays beam from heaven?
When sin invaded earth, knowledge of God was slain. That lovely plant was blighted to the root. That beauteous column fell a shattered ruin. The mind lost power to fly aloft. Its wings were clipped. The eye was dim to pierce the skies. The wish and skill to find out God were utterly extinct. Man’s intellect—alert to grovel in the dust—could never scale this height. Here mental shrewdness slobbered, as a fool. Witness the silly failures of philosophy’s most boasted efforts.
Unless, then, some revelation had been given, God and His essence must have been shrouded in impenetrable night. Man could not dig such a jewel out of his own quarry. He could not find it in his own empty chambers. Along a brief career of blindness he must have gone down to that deep prison-house, where darkness ever darkens, and God is never seen. The world by wisdom knows not God.
The case of need, then, is most clear. But all is met by Jesus. He undertakes to save, and undertakes to teach. The Church’s Saviour is the Church’s Prophet. He is not slow to enter on His work. In Eden’s garden, where the light expired, He strikes a new spark. There He is quick to speak of remedy and rescue—of a woman-born Saviour—and His final triumphs. As time rolls on, He adds fresh light. By types, by prophecies, by figures, and by signs, He pictures redemption. He raises holy men, and puts His words into their mouths. He shakes a torch of truth in the world’s night. He shows His Calvary through vistas of long time—and so guides many a benighted pilgrim in the path to heaven.
Thus the Prophet’s voice is early heard—the Prophet’s school is early open. But in appointed time, the Prophet-God must come in person. Moses thus states the fact. ”The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken”. Let us now mark the marvellous fulfilment.
Why is it there is so much error in the Church of God?
(From Winslow’s, “Learning of Jesus”)
The only authoritative Teacher in the Church of
God, the only true Prophet, is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why is it there is so much darkness and crudeness
in the books we read, and in the sermons we hear?
Why is it that we see so much ignorance and
obscurity in setting forth the truth of God?
Why is it there is so much
error in the Church of God?
It is because men will not sit at the feet of
Jesus and learn of Him. Men would rather learn
of their fellow men than of the ‘God man’.
They prefer human writings to the Divine.
They prefer the school of man, to the school of God.
And this is one reason why there is so much
false doctrine, the teaching that causes to err,
both from the pulpit and from the press.
We may be carried away by great learning, brilliant
genius, and apparently profound piety; but if we
place ourselves at the feet of Jesus as a lowly
disciple, and there receive our views of truth, we
shall then understand those profound mysteries
of God’s revealed Word, which are hidden from
the worldly wise and prudent, but revealed to
those who become learners of Christ.
“Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 9:29
| What are those wounds? Spurgeon, “The Evidence of Our Lord’s Wounds” O Lord Jesus, what are those wounds in your side, and in your hands? He answers– “These I endured when suffering for you. How can I forget you? I have graven you upon the palms of my hands. How can I ever fail to remember you? On my very heart the spear has written your name.” Look at Jesus, dead, buried, risen, and then say, “He loved me, and gave himself for me!” There is no restorative for a sinking faith like a sight of the wounded Saviour. Look, soul, and live by the proofs of his death! Come and put your finger, by faith, into the print of the nails, and these wounds shall heal you of unbelief. The wounds of our Lord are the tokens of his love. |
These scars are the memorials of the fight!
(C.H.Spurgeon)
“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain” Rev 5:6
Why would our exalted Lord appear in His wounds, in glory?
The wounds of Jesus are His glories, His jewels, His sacred ornaments. To the eye of the believer, Jesus is lovely because He is “white and ruddy”-white with innocence, and ruddy with His own blood. We see Him as the Lily of matchless purity-and as the Rose crimsoned with His own gore. Christ is lovely in His life and His teaching-but oh! there never was such a matchless Christ as He who hung upon the cross! There we behold . . .
all His beauties in perfections,
all His attributes developed,
all His love drawn out,
all His character expressed!
Beloved, the wounds of Jesus are far more lovely in our eyes than all the splendour and pomp of kings! The thorny crown is more attractive than any imperial diadem. Jesus wears the appearance of a slain Lamb as His court dress in which He wooed our souls, and redeemed them by His complete atonement.
Nor are these only the ornaments of Christ-they are the trophies of His love and of His victory! He has redeemed for Himself a great multitude whom no man can number-and these scars are the memorials of the fight!
Ah! if Christ delights to retain the thought of His sufferings for His people-then how precious should His wounds be to us!
“Behold how every wound of His,
A precious balm distills,
Which heals the scars that sin had made,
And cures all mortal ills!
Those wounds are mouths that preach His grace,
The ensigns of His love;
The seals of our expected bliss,
In paradise above!”
We meekly knock at mercy’s gate
(Henry Law)
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.“ Isaiah 64:6
Holy Father, Almighty God,
We feel our weakness, our ignorance, our deep corruptions. We meekly knock at mercy’s gate. Regard us in tender love-for Jesus’ sake. Bend down Your ear-and grant Your smile.
We are blind-be our light.
We are ignorant-be our wisdom.
We are steeped in selfishness-pluck all SELF out of us.
In the deep sense of our guilt, we fly for refuge into the wounded side of Jesus!
Be merciful, be merciful unto us-whose only hope is in Your unfailing mercy.
Our sins rise higher than the heavens-but Your merits in our behalf surpass the very heaven of heavens!
Our unrighteousness would weigh us down to hell-but Your glorious righteousness exalts us to Your heavenly throne!
All things in us call for our damnation-but all things in You demand our forgiveness.
We appeal, then, from Your throne of perfect justice-to Your throne of boundless grace!
Blessed Jesus, we hide ourselves in the sure covert of Your wrath-appeasing wounds!
Grant us to hear Your voice assuring us: that by Your stripes we are healed; that You have been bruised for our iniquities; that You have been made sin for us-that we might have Your divine righteousness; and that all our vile and grievous iniquities, are forgiven and buried in the ocean of Your sin-concealing blood!
We are guilty-yet pardoned!
We are lost in ourselves-yet fully saved in You!
Enable us to cling firmly to Your cross-even as we now seek safety and repose beneath its sin-atoning shelter!
Let floods of sustaining grace from Your inexhaustible treasury, enrich our poor and weary souls.
If the enemy approaches, quicken our steps to flee into the wounds of Jesus as our sure refuge! Sheltered in the ark of safety, may we cease to tremble at all alarms. May You our good Shepherd lead us this day into the green pastures of His refreshing Word, and cause us to lie down beside the rivers of Your divine comforts.
These prayers we humbly offer in the name of Jesus Christ, and trusting only in His saving merits. Amen.
Engraved!
(John MacDuff, 1874)
“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;” Isaiah 49:15-16
“Behold,” says infinite God, “I have engraved you on the palms of My hands!”
Not on the mountains, as colossal as they are, for they shall depart;
not on any page of nature’s vast volume, for the last fires shall scorch them;
not on blazing sun, for it shall grow dim with age;
not on glorious heavens, for they shall be folded together as a scroll.
But on . . .
the hand which made the worlds,
the hand which was transfixed on the cruel cross,
the hand of infinite might and unmeasurable love;
I have engraved you there! No corroding power can efface the writing, or obliterate your name!
You are Mine now, and Mine forever!
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name-you are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1