{"id":2492,"date":"2013-05-18T09:42:15","date_gmt":"2013-05-18T09:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2492"},"modified":"2013-05-18T09:42:15","modified_gmt":"2013-05-18T09:42:15","slug":"bulletin-edition-171-may-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2492","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #171 MAY 2013"},"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;
\n<\/em>in the suitability of His offices;
\n<\/em>in the immensity of His love;<\/em>
\nin the efficacy of His atonement;<\/em>
\nin the riches of His abounding grace!
\n<\/em>
\nHis righteousness <\/em>is mine \u2014 to justify me,
\nHis Spirit <\/em>is mine \u2014 to sanctify me,
\nHis power <\/em>is mine \u2014 to defend me,
\nHis wisdom <\/em>is mine \u2014 to guide me, and
\nHis Heaven <\/em>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<\/em> \u2014 and those riches are for you! I have happiness <\/em>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 <\/em>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 <\/em>which exists between him and Christ \u2014 is an indissoluble union!<\/em> 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<\/em>.<\/p>\n

All earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks every other bond<\/em> \u2014 only strengthens the bond between the Christian and Christ! Death, which quenches every other love<\/em> \u2014 only kindles that of the believer for Jesus, into a purer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other object <\/em>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<\/em> cannot touch it!
\nThe storms of life<\/em> cannot injure it!
\nThe sword of persecution<\/em> cannot sever it!
\nThe damps of death<\/em> cannot affect it!
\nThe malice of hell <\/em>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 <\/em>forever, safe <\/em>forever, dignified <\/em>forever, and blessed <\/em>forever!<\/p>\n

— <\/strong><\/p>\n

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

My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(James Smith)<\/p>\n

“My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!<\/strong>” Song of Solomon 2:16<\/p>\n

“My Beloved is mine!<\/strong>” He is . . .
\nthe Savior <\/em>in whom I believe and trust;
\nthe Husband <\/em>whom I reverence and love;
\nthe Lord <\/em>whom I adore and obey;
\nthe portion <\/em>on which I live; and
\nthe beloved One<\/em> upon whom my heart and affections are set.<\/p>\n

“And I am His!<\/strong>”
\nHe chose <\/em>me \u2014 or I would have never chosen Him.<\/p>\n

He redeemed <\/em>me \u2014 or I would have still been Satan’s slave.<\/p>\n

He called <\/em>me \u2014 or I would have still been wandering from God.<\/p>\n

He sanctified <\/em>me \u2014 or I would have still been vile and polluted.<\/p>\n

He manifested <\/em>Himself to me \u2014 or I would have never seen His glory.<\/p>\n

“I am His!<\/strong>”
\nI am His spouse.<\/em><\/p>\n

I am His portion<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I am His delight<\/em>.<\/p>\n

I am His choice <\/em>out of all worlds.<\/p>\n

I am His glorious crown!<\/em><\/p>\n

“My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!”<\/em> Song of Solomon 2:16<\/p>\n

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

—<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

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

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

Where then, are all my spots?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Susannah Spurgeon, “A Basket of Summer Fruit”)<\/p>\n

“You are all beautiful, My beloved; there is no spot<\/em>
\nin you!” Song of Songs 4:7<\/p>\n

“Ah!” I hear some timid, trembling believer say, “Such
\na text can have nothing to do with me!<\/em> I am the very
\nopposite of all that is beautiful and spotless. The eyes
\nof my soul have seen hideous sights within, which I can
\nnever forget; and I loathe myself and my sin so much,
\nthat though I believe God has forgiven me for Christ’s
\nsake\u2014I feel it impossible to take those precious words
\nas addressed to one so sinful and imperfect as myself!”<\/p>\n

Yet, trembling soul, I would bid you take courage, and
\nlook up! Christ’s love for His people is marvelously set
\nforth in this Song of Songs<\/em>. The same precious blood
\nwas poured out to redeem the least lamb <\/em>of the flock,
\nas for the choicest sheep!<\/em><\/p>\n

Come, then, timid one\u2014rejoice in the blessed fact that
\nyou are indeed precious to the Lord\u2014and He says, “You
\nare all beautiful, My beloved!” Adoringly bow before Him
\nin wonder\u2014at the miracle His love has wrought in you.<\/p>\n

It ill becomes the bride of Christ to ignore His loveliness<\/em>,
\nwhich He has put upon her, and go about bemoaning the
\nscars and blemishes which His great love overlooks and
\nforgets.<\/p>\n

It is quite true that, in themselves, believers are sorrowfully
\nimperfect and sinful; but if the Lord Jesus, in His marvelous
\nmercy, unrobes Himself to cover over their unrighteousness,
\nthey may well be content to be thus made “beautiful” in His
\nsight. We cannot comprehend the mystery and sublimity of
\nDivine love; but it is the sole and all-sufficient reason for the
\ndear Lord’s estimate of us; and when He uses such endearing
\nlanguage\u2014our hearts melt and are ravished by His wondrous
\ncondescension. With reverence we say it\u2014when our dear
\nMaster deigns to address us in accents of love and admiration,
\nour souls are thrilled with heavenly bliss, and we are uplifted
\nbeyond all the sorrows and vexations of this world, into an
\natmosphere of unspeakable spiritual joy!<\/p>\n

“My beloved!”<\/em> Oh, say it again, dear Savior! Let the music
\nof Your voice touch and vibrate through the deepest chords
\nof my nature, and awaken sweet responses in my soul! You
\nare the fount and source of all love; oh, fill me, overwhelm
\nme, plunge me in this sea of mercy and of grace! I would be
\nswallowed up in it\u2014knowing no other joy or bliss comparable
\nto that of being able to say, “My Beloved is mine\u2014and I am His!”<\/p>\n

“There is no spot in you.” Can our loving Lord really mean
\nthis? He does, indeed! “Where then, are all my spots<\/strong>,
\ndear Lord, for they were legion\u2014and sin must render me
\nvile and loathsome in Your pure sight?”<\/p>\n

All the sins\u2014past, present, and future\u2014all the deformity and
\nblackness\u2014are cleansed away by Christ’s blood\u2014covered by
\nHis righteousness! And so completely is this done, that God
\nHimself can find no remnant or stain of that which would
\nhave meant eternal death to an unwashed soul. The poor
\nsinner is lifted from the depths of sin\u2014to the heights of
\nheavenly bliss! “What kind of love is this?” It is so Divine
\nand incomprehensible that, in the contemplation of it,
\nwe are lost in wonder and amazement!
\n
\nLord Jesus, what a glorious Savior You are! All the sin,
\nwhich made Your bride so black and vile\u2014was laid upon
\nYou!<\/em><\/p>\n

“There is no spot in you.” An old writer says\u2014”Now, if
\nGod <\/em>sees no spot\u2014why should you <\/em>be prying after one?
\nPoring over your misery, searching after your blackness
\nand depravity\u2014will be no help to you. This only keeps
\nyour eyes off <\/em>Jesus, instead of up unto <\/em>Jesus. You cannot
\nlook two ways at once. How did the poor serpent-bitten
\nIsraelites in the wilderness get relief and healing? By
\nlooking to their sores, their wounds, their malady? Oh,
\nno! It was by looking to the brazen serpent! And if you
\nwould get relief\u2014it must be by looking to Jesus Christ!”<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Christ’s love-letters<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Charles Spurgeon)<\/p>\n

“The Scriptures point to Me!”<\/em> John 5:39<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ is the Alpha <\/em>and Omega <\/em>of the Bible. He is the constant theme<\/em> of its sacred pages; from first to last \u2014 they testify of Him!
\nWe catch a glimpse of Him in the promise of the woman’s seed;<\/em>
\nwe see Him typified in the ark of Noah; <\/em>
\nwe walk with Abraham, as He sees Messiah’s day; <\/em>
\nwe dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious promise; <\/em>
\nwe hear the venerable Israel talking of the coming Shiloh<\/em>; and
\nin the numerous types of the law<\/em>, we find the Redeemer abundantly foreshadowed.
\nProphets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way \u2014 they all stand as the cherubim did over the ark \u2014 desiring to look within, and to read the mystery of God’s great atoning sacrifice!<\/p>\n

Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord \u2014 the one pervading subject. It is not a single gem<\/em> here and there, or dust of gold thinly scattered \u2014 but here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified<\/em>, and even its closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer’s name!<\/p>\n

We should always read Scripture in this light \u2014 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 \u2014 darkly, it is true \u2014 but still in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing Him \u2014 as we shall see Him face to face!<\/p>\n

This volume contains Christ’s love-letters <\/strong>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 <\/em>of the holy child Jesus \u2014 unroll them and you find your Savior!<\/p>\n

The quintessence of the Word of God \u2014 is Christ!<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

—<\/em><\/p>\n

Sons! Brethren! Princes! Friends! Heirs! Jewels! My Portion! Mine! <\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span>
\n(John MacDuff, “The Night Watches”)<\/p>\n

“And they shall be Mine, says the LORD Almighty, in that day when I make up My jewels<\/strong>!” Malachi 3:17<\/p>\n

“MY JEWELS!” Of what favored creatures does Jehovah thus speak? Is it of seraphs? Is it of angels? Methinks, at such a title, even they would take the dust of abasement, and veiling their faces, cry, “Unclean! unclean!” But, marvel of marvels! It is redeemed sinners<\/em> of the earth \u2014 once crude, unshapely stones, lying in “the horrible pit and the miry clay,” amid the rubbish of corruption \u2014 who are thus sought out by divine grace, purchased by divine love, destined through eternity to be set as jewels in the crown<\/em> of the eternal God!<\/p>\n

“The Lord’s portion is His people!” <\/em>There is a surpassing revelation of love here. Great, unspeakably great, is the privilege of the believer \u2014 to be able to look up to the everlasting Jehovah, and say, “You are my portion, O Lord!” <\/em>But what is this, in comparison with the response of Omnipotence to the child of dust, “You are Mine!” <\/em>Reader, have you learned to lisp your part in this wondrous interchange of covenant-love, “My beloved is Mine \u2014 and I am His!” <\/em><\/p>\n

What an array of wondrous titles belong to the saints of God, and given, too, by God Himself, in His own Word! He calls them \u2014 Sons! Brethren! Princes! Friends! Heirs! Jewels! My Portion! Mine!<\/strong><\/p>\n

And when <\/em>is the time when they become thus dear to Him? Sinner, when you wept at the cross of Jesus \u2014 you became His jewel. No \u2014 from eternity past \u2014 “He has loved you with an everlasting love!” True, you are not yet <\/em>set in His crown. You are yet undergoing the process of polishing<\/em>. Affliction is preparing you; trial is needed to remove all the roughness and blemishes of nature, and make you fit for your Master’s use. But, blessed thought! “Now it is God who has made us (literally, chiseled <\/em>or polished <\/em>us) for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Yes, God Himself, the possessor, who prized that earthly jewel so much, as to give in exchange for it Heaven’s “Pearl of great price” \u2014 He has the polishing <\/em>in His own hand! He will not deal too rashly or roughly!<\/p>\n

A jewel in Immanuel’s crown! Not only raised from the ash-heap to be set among princes; but to gem <\/em>through eternity \u2014 the Forehead that for me, was once wreathed with thorns!<\/em><\/p>\n

Shall I murmur \u2014 can I murmur, at any way my Savior sees fit to polish <\/em>and prepare <\/em>me for such an honor as this? Let me sink down on my nightly pillow overpowered with the thought; and as I hear my covenant God whispering in my ear the astounding accents, “You are Mine!” <\/em>I may well reply, “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me live in safety!” Psalm 4:8<\/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-2492","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\/2492","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=2492"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2493,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492\/revisions\/2493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}