{"id":2837,"date":"2014-04-26T07:11:37","date_gmt":"2014-04-26T07:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2837"},"modified":"2014-04-26T10:54:38","modified_gmt":"2014-04-26T10:54:38","slug":"bulletin-edition-208-april-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2837","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #208 April 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everlasting Love<\/strong><\/p>\n

Isaiah 54: 10: The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you.<\/em><\/p>\n

[Believer] consider the love of God for you, as everlasting love. It never did, it never will, depart. Notwithstanding your fall in Adam, your depraved nature, your constant sins and departures, the love of God continues. He may veil for a little moment the light of His countenance, may chastise and afflict you for your revoltings and backslidings; still, having loved you once, He loves you to the end. Whatever else departs, His love never will. Wealth may leave you, health may fail you, friends may forsake you, and life itself expire; but God’s paternal love, and Christ’s fraternal sympathy, will never, never change.<\/p>\n

The covenant of peace made with Christ, on your behalf, O my soul, sealed with His blood, even the “blood of the everlasting covenant,” which procured peace, speaks peace, and bequeaths peace, even “the peace of God which passes all understanding,” shall never be removed. The mountains of human strength, lofty and sun-gilded, the hills of creature good, clad with verdure, and smiling with fruit, shall be removed; the strongest, the loveliest, and the dearest, the first to die. But, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Amid the vicissitudes and changes of the present, the dying friends and revolving landscapes of life, cling, O my soul, to Him whose covenant never alters, whose kindness never changes; who, having loved you before all time, and loved you in all time, will love you to the end of all time\u2014yes, when time shall be no longer. The Lord that has mercy upon you has said it.<\/p>\n

Unconverted soul! the day will come when, if found out of Christ, you will cry to the mountains and to the rocks to cover you\u2014but will cry in vain! Before His face of glory the heavens and the earth will flee away, and your soul will stand without a shelter or a hiding place. Escape for your life! There is one mountain, and one only, where you can find shelter from the wrath that is to come\u2014it is Mount Calvary. Hidden there, the “Avenger of Blood” cannot reach you. No refuge but the cross\u2014no fountain but the blood\u2014no righteousness but Christ’s\u2014no Savior but Jesus\u2014will meet your case. “Him that comes unto Me I will in no way cast out.”<\/p>\n

Octavius Winslow<\/p>\n

— <\/strong><\/p>\n

O the wonders couched in electing <\/em>love!<\/strong>
\n(James Smith, “God’s Special Treasure” 1860)
\n“For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth \u2014 the Lord your God has chosen <\/em>you to be His own special treasure!<\/strong>” Deuteronomy 7:6<\/p>\n

God highly prizes His people. Yes, it is impossible to say how highly He prizes them. Those are wondrous words, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own special treasure!” Psalm 135:4
\nDid the shepherd <\/em>prize his flock? God calls His people, “His flock, His beautiful <\/em>flock.”<\/p>\n

Does the miser <\/em>prize his wealth? God says of His people, “You shall be a special treasure <\/em>unto Me above all people; for all the earth is mine.”
\nDoes the prince <\/em>prize his jewels? God says of His people, “They shall be Mine, in that day when I make up My jewels!” <\/em>
\nDoes the bridegroom <\/em>prize his beloved and dearly purchased bride? It is written, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride \u2014 so shall your God rejoice <\/em>over you!”
\nDoes the reigning monarch <\/em>prize his crown? God has said, “You shall be a crown of glory<\/em> in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem<\/em> in the hand of your God.”
\nWhat wondrous love, such expressions as these represent! How precious must the Lord’s people be to Him! Truly they are His special treasure!
\n<\/em>God CHOSE<\/strong> them to be special unto Himself. He chose them out from among others. He chose them in preference <\/em>to others.
\nHe chose them out from others, on purpose that they may be a special people unto Himself. And in so doing, He acted FREELY. It was not on account of anything He saw <\/em>in them, or on account of anything He expected <\/em>from them; but in the exercise of His most free and holy sovereignty \u2014 He chose them to participate in the glory of His Son!
\nIn choosing them, He acted also DELIBERATELY. It was no hasty choice. His thoughts <\/em>had been eternally filled with them. His heart <\/em>had been eternally set upon them. Therefore He chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world!
\nIn choosing them, He acted WISELY \u2014 as He really desired to have them. For each one of them is ready to confess that if God had not chosen them \u2014 that they would never have chosen Him! The nature <\/em>regulates the choice<\/em>; and as our nature is carnal and impure \u2014 we would never have chosen God, who is spiritual and holy.
\nHis choice was just an early expression of His LOVE. The love which chose them \u2014 would do<\/em> anything for them, and give <\/em>anything to them! Therefore God spared not His own Son \u2014 but delivered Him up for them all; and in so doing, gave them the assurance that He will also freely give them all things in Christ.<\/p>\n

O the wonders couched in electing <\/em>love!<\/strong><\/p>\n

This act of choosing such creatures as we are,<\/em> to be a special people unto Himself, displays . . .
\nsuch grace,
\nsuch condescension,
\nsuch infinite wisdom and love!
\nGod’s election says, “The Lord loves you!” Loves us! Yes, and with a love that is eternal, immutable, sovereign, infinite, and free! All the love of God is lavished <\/em>upon us as His special people in Christ. Oh, those wondrous words of Jesus, “You have loved them \u2014 even as You have loved Me!” John 17:23
\nBut few among the worldly wise<\/em>,
\nBut few of nobler <\/em>race,
\nObtain the favor of Your eyes, Almighty King of grace!<\/em><\/p>\n

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

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

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

—<\/em><\/p>\n

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

I have chosen you!<\/strong><\/p>\n

(George Mylne, “Fear Not!” 1854)<\/p>\n

“Fear not, I have chosen you!<\/strong>” Isaiah 41:9, 10<\/p>\n

Christian reader, God says to you, “I have chosen you!” This is a great<\/em> mystery<\/em> \u2014 but it is a comforting<\/em> truth<\/em>. God does not tell you WHY He chose you. He only tells you the simple fact. It is not for you to question it, or to shrink from it \u2014 but to receive it, and be thankful.
\nGod was free to love<\/em> you \u2014 or free to loathe<\/em> you.
\nHe was free to choose<\/em> you \u2014 or free to reject<\/em> you.
\nHe says, “I have chosen you!” Believe what God says, and rejoice. “Before the mountains were brought forth, before He had formed the earth and the world,” God had chosen you! “From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.” From everlasting to everlasting He loved<\/em> \u2014 He chose<\/em> \u2014 He delighted<\/em> in His people.
\nFellow-sinner, if God says, “I have chosen you,” He says it . . .
\nto encourage you;
\nto strengthen you;
\nto sanctify you;
\nthat you may rest upon the everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure,
\nthat you may look away from self<\/em>, and see that salvation is altogether of the Lord.
\nGod chose you, “not according to your works; but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given you in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9.)
\nFellow-sinner, you are . . .
\nloved in Christ;
\nchosen in Christ;
\ncalled in Christ;
\nsaved in Christ!
\nHere is your foundation; here your hope; here your safety \u2014 you were “chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world!”
\nThis is to humble <\/em>you \u2014 as well as to exalt <\/em>you.<\/p>\n

This is to make you weep<\/em> \u2014 as well as cause you to rejoice<\/em>.<\/p>\n

You are vile <\/em>in yourself \u2014 but chosen to indescribable honor!<\/p>\n

You are poor <\/em>in yourself \u2014 but chosen to unspeakable riches!<\/p>\n

You are naked <\/em>in yourself \u2014 but chosen to eternal glory!<\/p>\n

Child of God, never lose your hold of this precious truth. God has revealed it, that you might delight in it. Let this be the brightest jewel in your crown \u2014 this the sweetest cordial to your heart \u2014 that God says to you, “Fear not, I have chosen you!” <\/em>
\nAs you sit at the feet of Jesus;
\nas you lay your mouth in the dust, and cry, “Unclean, unclean!”<\/em>
\nas you take all the shame to yourself, and give all the glory to God,
\nlet this comfort delight your soul \u2014
\nGod has said, “Fear not, I have chosen you!”<\/em>
\n“God chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world!” Ephesians 1:4 (amp.)<\/p>\n

Of this I am sure. If salvation is not all of grace, I will not be saved. If any aspect of salvation is dependent upon me doing or not doing something, I will not be in heaven. If what Christ did alone is not enough to make me just before God, I will be in hell. If I am not preserved by irresistible and invincible grace, I will fall away. If God does not look to Christ for everything He requires of me, then I have no hope. But thank God, salvation really is all of grace. Salvation is not dependent upon my doing or not doing something. What Christ did alone makes me just before God. I am preserved by irresistible grace. Everything God requires of me He looks to His Son for. Therefore\u2026.saved I must be!\u00a0 – Todd Nibert<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The atonement<\/strong> does not change the nature and character of God, but rather, the atonement honours and magnifies the character of God. The death of Christ is not the cause of God\u2019s love, but the result of it. God is not merciful because Christ died. Christ died because God is merciful. In order that every attribute might be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Savior of His chosen people! Thank God! There is an atonement before the Lord! – Pastor Henry Mahan<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The rule of life for the believer is Christ, Himself, especially as He is revealed at the cross. Nothing so thoroughly reveals the sinfulness of sin as the cross. No doubt the law has a strong testimony of condemnation, but it is at the cross that the law\u2019s condemnation of sin was most clearly displayed. The law engraved on tables of stone can teach the mind that this or that is wrong, but the law engraved in the wounded flesh of the Holy One strikes to the very core of a man\u2019s being and reveals the utter sinfulness of even his righteousness.
\nFurthermore, the Gospel law of love finds no greater revelation than our Lord\u2019s sacrificial death in behalf of His people, as it is written, \u201cGreater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.\u201d With the mere word, \u201clove\u201d, on our lips, we may (and often do) excuse ourselves from loving action. But at the sight of Calvary, every excuse for self-service evaporates and we are both compelled and energized to truly love one another. It may seem trite to say it; but everything we need for this life and the next \u2013 that is, how we should live this life and how we should obtain the next \u2013 is found in Christ and Him crucified! – Pastor Joe Terrell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everlasting Love Isaiah 54: 10: The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you. [Believer] consider the love of God for you, as everlasting love. It never did, it never […]<\/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-2837","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\/2837","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=2837"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2840,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions\/2840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}