{"id":2104,"date":"2012-07-14T12:25:20","date_gmt":"2012-07-14T12:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2104"},"modified":"2012-07-14T12:25:20","modified_gmt":"2012-07-14T12:25:20","slug":"bulletin-articles-issue-131-july-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2104","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Articles Issue #131 July 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

A union which will last forever!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(John MacDuff, “The Christian’s Pathway” 1858″)<\/p>\n

“My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!” Song of Songs 2:14<\/p>\n

This is the language of the Christian in the book of Canticles. How great is the blessedness involved in such an assurance! My beloved Jesus is mine . . .
\nin the dignity of His person;
\nin the suitability of His offices;
\nin the immensity of His love;
\nin the efficacy of His atonement;
\nin the riches of His abounding grace!<\/p>\n

His righteousness is mine \u2014 to justify me,
\nHis Spirit is mine \u2014 to sanctify me,
\nHis power is mine \u2014 to defend me,
\nHis wisdom is mine \u2014 to guide me, and
\nHis Heaven is mine \u2014 to receive me!<\/p>\n

And what does Christ <\/strong>say to the believer in return?<\/p>\n

“I am yours \u2014 and all that I have is yours! I have boundless and unsearchable riches \u2014 and those riches are for you! I have happiness to bestow, such as the mind in its largest grasp has never been able to conceive \u2014 and that happiness is for you! I have crowns and scepters at My disposal \u2014 and all those honors are for you! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My glorious throne!”<\/p>\n

The Christian’s exaltation and bliss is not a matter of doubtful disputation. And what makes it so certain? It is the blessed truth that the union which exists between him and Christ \u2014 is an indissoluble union! All other relations, however close and endearing, must be broken. That union of husband and wife; and soul and body \u2014 has no power to resist the assault of death, the great destroyer.<\/p>\n

All earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks every other bond \u2014 only strengthens the bond between the Christian and Christ! Death, which quenches every other love \u2014 only kindles that of the believer for Jesus, into a purer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other object from our grasp \u2014 only brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who is the fountain of life, the great center and source of all blessedness.<\/p>\n

Christian, rejoice in your union with Jesus!
\nThe changes of time cannot touch it!
\nThe storms of life cannot injure it!
\nThe sword of persecution cannot sever it!
\nThe damps of death cannot affect it!
\nThe malice of hell cannot move it!
\nIt is a union which will last forever! <\/strong>It follows, therefore, that you, if a partaker of it \u2014 will be rich forever, safe forever, dignified forever, and blessed forever!<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

A shield and deliverer<\/p>\n

<\/strong>(Octavius Winslow, “Christ is Ever with You!” 1863)<\/p>\n

“Surely, I am with you always \u2014 even unto the end of the world!” Matthew 28:20<\/p>\n

Christ is ever with His people \u2014 as a shield and deliverer<\/strong>. Our estimation of this truth, will be proportioned to our intelligent apprehension of the number and potency of our enemies \u2014 and the costliness and preciousness of the treasure thus divinely protected.<\/p>\n

There are assaults <\/strong>from which Christ alone can shield us!
\nInnumerable and invisible,
\nsleepless and restless,
\nworking with an almost almighty power,
\neverywhere with an almost omnipresent existence,
\never plotting our ruin \u2014
\nare the spiritual enemies of our soul, and the sworn foes of our faith!<\/p>\n

The world and its fascinations,
\nSatan and his devices,
\nthe flesh and its tendencies,
\nerror and its disguises \u2014
\nare all confederate against the child of God, opposing his every advance in holiness!<\/p>\n

But Christ is our ever-present shield, near at the moment of assault, and skillful to deflect and disarm it! “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield!” are words addressed to all who have like precious faith with him. Oh yes! the Lord encompasses you. Encircled by danger \u2014 you are also encircled by the ever-present protection of Jesus!<\/p>\n

“So do not fear \u2014 for I am with you! Do not be dismayed \u2014 for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand!” Isaiah 41:10<\/p>\n

With what unslumbering vigilance,
\nwith what divine power,
\nwith what changeless love \u2014
\ndoes the Lord Jesus shield the work of grace in the soul of His people!<\/p>\n

Who keeps that spark alive \u2014 in the midst of the ocean?<\/p>\n

Who guards this vineyard night and day \u2014 lest any hurt it?<\/p>\n

Who preserves . . .
\nfaith from faltering,
\nlove from chilling,
\nhope from dying?<\/p>\n

Who . . .
\nstrengthens the ‘work of grace’ when it is feeble,
\nraises it when it droops,
\nrestores it when it relapses,
\nkeeps it in the cold of winter and the drought of summer;
\nand, when the frosts and winds of autumn would nip and scatter its foliage \u2014 clothes it with the freshness and bloom of spring?<\/p>\n

Oh, it is Jesus, encircling with His all-protecting shield \u2014 the work of grace which His death has accomplished, and which His Spirit wrought!<\/p>\n

Trembling believer! The work of grace in your heart shall never die! The kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in your soul \u2014 is indestructible! “They shall never perish!” is the declaration of the Shepherd who bought you with His blood! You are watched over by Christ \u2014 and kept by the power of God.<\/p>\n

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
\nmy God is my rock, in whom I take refuge!
\nHe is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!”
\nPsalm 18:2<\/p>\n

My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

—<\/strong><\/p>\n

“My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong>, for My power is
\nmade perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

(J. C. Philpot, “Strength Made Perfect in Weakness”)<\/p>\n

Not your strength,
\nnot your wisdom,
\nnot your prayers,
\nnot your experience;
\nbut “My grace”\u2014My free, My matchless grace,
\nindependent of all works and efforts, independent of
\neverything in the creature\u2014flowing wholly and solely,
\nfully and freely, out of the bosom of Jesus to . . .
\nthe needy,
\nthe guilty,
\nthe destitute,
\nthe undone.<\/p>\n

You who are tried in worldly circumstances,
\nwho have to endure the hard lot of poverty<\/strong>
\n\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

You who are tempted<\/strong>, day by day, to say
\nor do that which conscience testifies against
\n\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

You who are harassed with family troubles <\/strong>
\nand afflictions, and are often drawn aside into
\npeevishness and fretfulness\u2014”My grace is
\nsufficient for you.”<\/p>\n

Our weakness<\/strong>, helplessness<\/strong>, and inability <\/strong>
\nare the very things which draw forth the power,
\nthe strength, and the grace of Jesus!<\/p>\n

Believer, your case is never beyond the reach
\nof the words\u2014”My grace is sufficient for you!”<\/p>\n

The free, the matchless, sovereign grace of God,
\nis sufficient for all His people\u2014in whatever state,
\nor stage, or trouble, or difficulty they may be in!<\/p>\n

“My grace is sufficient for you<\/strong>, for My power is
\nmade perfect in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9<\/p>\n

The covenant of grace!<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

—<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Charles Spurgeon, “The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant!” 1859)<\/p>\n

“The blood of the everlasting covenant!” Hebrews 13:20<\/p>\n

Long before the day-star knew its place,
\nlong before God had spoken existence out of nothing,
\nlong before angel’s wing had stirred the unnavigated ether,
\nlong before a solitary song had disturbed the solemnity of the silence in which God reigned supreme
\n\u2014 the Father had entered into solemn counsel with Himself, with His Son, and with His Spirit \u2014 and had in that council decreed, determined, purposed, and predestined the salvation of His people!<\/p>\n

On the Father’s <\/strong>part \u2014 thus ran the covenant. I cannot tell it to you in the glorious celestial tongue in which it was written. I am glad to bring it down to the speech which suits to the ear of flesh, and to the heart of a mortal. Thus, I say, ran the covenant in lines like these:
\n“I, the Most High Jehovah, do hereby give unto My only begotten and well-beloved Son \u2014 a people, countless beyond the number of the stars . . .
\nwho shall be washed from sin by Him;
\nwho shall be preserved, and kept, and led by Him; and
\nat last, who shall be presented before My throne without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing by Him.
\nI covenant by oath, and swear by Myself, because I can swear by no one greater, that these whom I now give to Christ \u2014 shall forever be the objects of My eternal love!
\nThese, I will forgive through the merit of my Son’s blood.
\nTo these, I will give a perfect righteousness.
\nThese, I will I adopt and make My sons and daughters.
\nAnd these shall reign with Me through Christ eternally!”<\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit <\/strong>also, as one of the contracting parties of the covenant, gave His declaration, “I hereby covenant, that all whom the Father gives to the Son \u2014
\nI will in due time quicken.
\nI will show them their need of redemption.
\nI will cut off all their groundless hopes, and destroy their refuges of lies.
\nI will bring them to the blood of sprinkling.
\nI will give them faith whereby this blood shall be applied to them.
\nI will work in them every grace.
\nI will keep their faith alive.
\nI will cleanse them and drive out depravity from them.
\nAnd they shall be presented at last, spotless and faultless in Heaven!”
\nThis was the one side of the covenant, which is at this very day being fulfilled and scrupulously kept.<\/p>\n

The Lord Jesus <\/strong>also, as one of the contracting parties of the covenant, gave His declaration, “My Father, on My part, I covenant that in the fullness of time, I will become man. I will live in their wretched world \u2014 and for My people, I keep the law perfectly. I will work out a spotless righteousness for them, which shall be acceptable to the demands of Your just and holy law. In due time, I will bear the sins of all My people. You shall exact all their debts upon Me. By My stripes \u2014 they shall be healed. My Father, I covenant and promise that I will be obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. I will magnify Your law, and make it honorable. I will suffer all that My people ought to have suffered. I will endure the curse of Your law \u2014 and all the vials of Your wrath shall be emptied and spent upon My head! I will then rise again, and ascend into Heaven. I will intercede for them at Your right hand. I will make Myself responsible for every one of them \u2014 that not one of those whom You have given me, shall ever be lost! I will bring all My sheep of whom, by My blood, you have constituted Me the Shepherd \u2014 I will bring every one safe to You at last!”<\/p>\n

Christ <\/strong>can say of what He promised to do, “It is finished!” He has paid the debts of all the elect. He has, for His people and for their redemption \u2014 suffered the whole of wrath divine. Nothing remains now, except that He shall continue to intercede for them \u2014 that He may safely bring all His redeemed to glory. All for whom Christ died, shall be pardoned \u2014 all justified \u2014 all adopted.<\/p>\n

The Spirit <\/strong>shall quicken them all, shall give them all faith, shall bring them all to Heaven. And they shall, every one of them, without hindrance, stand accepted in the Beloved.<\/p>\n

The antiquity of the covenant of grace demands our grateful attention. It is a truth which tends to elevate the mind. I know of no doctrine more grand than this! It is the very soul and essence of all Scripture! In sitting down and meditating upon it \u2014 I confess my spirit has sometimes been ravished with delight!<\/p>\n

Can you conceive of the idea, that before all things \u2014 God thought of you? That when as yet He had not made His mountains \u2014 He had thought of you; you, a poor puny worm? Oh this cannot make us proud \u2014 but it must make us feel happy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A union which will last forever! (John MacDuff, “The Christian’s Pathway” 1858″) “My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!” Song of Songs 2:14 This is the language of the Christian in the book of Canticles. How great is the blessedness involved in such an assurance! My beloved Jesus is mine . . . […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2104"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2105,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104\/revisions\/2105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}