{"id":2873,"date":"2014-05-24T12:21:51","date_gmt":"2014-05-24T12:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2873"},"modified":"2014-05-24T12:21:51","modified_gmt":"2014-05-24T12:21:51","slug":"bulletin-edition-212-may-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=2873","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition #212 May 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the paradoxes of salvation<\/strong> in Christ is that it is both vast and narrow at the same time.\u00a0 There is vastness in salvation by Christ.\u00a0 His blood cleanses the deepest stain.\u00a0 Christ saves sinners who are in the deepest depths of sin.\u00a0 Christ the Good Shepherd finds and brings home the lost sheep who is furthest away from Him.\u00a0 Christ saves sinners from every nation, every race, every language, and every walk of life.\u00a0 The obedience of Christ is vast enough to cover every requirement of God\u2019s law.\u00a0 Yet at the same time, salvation in Christ is so narrow that only helpless, hopeless sinners, who bring no merit or deeds of their own, may enter. Frank Tate pastor of Hurricane Road Grace Church<\/em><\/p>\n

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

—<\/em><\/p>\n

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

TWO NATURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

The eternally begotten Son of God necessarily from eternity possesses the divine nature \u2013 that of His Father. When the Son of God in His incarnation became Son of Man, He received the human nature (but not its Adamic sin). He did not cease to be the Son of God. Nor did He become devoid of the divine nature. Nor was the divine nature changed into the human nature. Rather, He remained one person but now had two natures: the divine nature as the Son of God, and the human nature as the Son of Man.<\/p>\n

Likewise, naturally begotten sons of men necessarily from birth possess the human nature \u2013 that of their fathers. When sons of men in their regeneration become sons of God, they receive the divine nature (but not its essential deity). They do not cease to be sons of men. Nor do they become devoid of the human nature. Nor is the human nature changed into the divine nature. Rather, they remain one person but now have two natures: the human nature as sons of men, and the divine nature as sons of God.<\/p>\n

This is the state of all who have become \u201cpartakers of the divine nature\u201d (2 Peter 1:4). They now have within their one person two natures: both \u201cthe old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts\u201d and \u201cthe new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness\u201d (Ephesians 4:22, 24). These two natures in man are in constant conflict with each other (Romans 7:15-25) \u2013 for the old nature can do nothing but sin, and the new nature can do nothing but righteousness. But the child of God delights in knowing that in the sight of God \u201cWhoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed [the divine nature] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God\u201d (1John 3:9).\u00a0 Daniel Parks<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

O WHAT A WRETCHED THING THIS FLESH IS!
\n<\/strong> O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:24, 25) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17)<\/p>\n

Oh what a wretched thing this flesh is!\u00a0 It is the residence of corruption, unbelief, hate, deceit, and every other evil known to man.\u00a0 Who would want such neighbors living next to them?\u00a0 Yet, these vile tenants are not mere neighbors to the believer.\u00a0 No, they are much closer than mere neighbors: they occupy the same duplex.\u00a0 The believer is of two natures joined into one person: flesh and spirit.\u00a0 Spiritually, he is a new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.\u00a0 But he still possesses the same flesh he was born with, and the same \u201cpeople\u201d live there.
\nThese occupants of the fleshly side of our \u201cduplex\u201d are not considerate at all, having no respect whatsoever for the occupants of the spiritual side of the duplex.\u00a0 No sooner does the spirit mow the grass and weed the flower bed than the flesh dumps a bag of stinking garbage on the lawn.\u00a0 No sooner does the spirit sit down for an evening of quiet reflection and prayer than the flesh will throw a party, turning up the stereo of vile thoughts.\u00a0 Neither side of the duplex will ever find full satisfaction, nor will there be any compromise.\u00a0 It will be a constant state of war for as long as the believer lives in this flesh.
\nNo wonder Paul wrote, \u201cO, wretched man that I am.\u201d\u00a0 Thanks to God through Christ, He shall someday throw out the occupants on the other side, knock down the wall that separates the two sides, and the fruit of the Spirit, the occupants of the believer\u2019s soul, shall reside in BOTH sides, in one harmonious household!\u00a0 Joe Terrell, pastor in Rock Valley, Iowa, USA<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

This past week I was listening to the story of a pastor whose pursuit of sin had driven him from ministry and into scandal. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe I ever met Jesus until I stepped out of my church persona and became just another broken, desperate man. That\u2019s when He really became real to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each of us has two versions of our selves: Saint Me <\/em>and Real Me<\/em>. We put on Saint Me <\/em>whenever we are around other church members and whenever we have an especially important request to make in prayer. We learn the phrases, the attitudes and the actions that are expected by others. What\u2019s more, we come to think that God is especially pleased with Saint Me<\/em>, and that if we ever were to be Real Me<\/em>, His love and blessing would diminish.<\/p>\n

But God did not love Saint Me <\/em>with an everlasting love. He knows Saint Me <\/em>isn\u2019t even real. God despises Saint Me<\/em>, for Saint Me <\/em>does not glorify the grace of God. Saint Me <\/em>is too busy thanking God he is not like Real Me<\/em>. Saint Me <\/em>never enters God\u2019s rest because he is too busy working.<\/p>\n

But God chose Real Me<\/em>; Christ died for Real Me<\/em>; the Holy Spirit called Real Me <\/em>and is presently preserving Real Me<\/em>. All these things were done for the real, broken, desperate Me. God does not love what Real Me <\/em>is, but He loves Real Me <\/em>as he is.<\/p>\n

It seems to me that growing in grace has something to do with recognizing Saint Me <\/em>for the wretch that he is, and embracing the truth that God loves Real Me <\/em>in Christ.<\/p>\n

Is this not what the Lord was saying to the Laodiceans:<\/p>\n

You say, \u2018I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.\u2019 But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17)<\/p>\n

The sooner we go from \u201cSaint\u201d to \u201cReal\u201d the sooner we enter the glorious liberty of the Sons of God.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2013Joe Terrell<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Solitude Sweetened<\/strong> by James Meikle, 1730-1799
\nCOMFORTABLE CONCLUSIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!”
\n(Romans 5:20)<\/p>\n

Dear Savior, in your sufferings I not only see the infiniteness of sin, but also the infiniteness of your love; so that, though I have cause with myself to be angry on account of sin, I need not despair. If the desert of my sinful folly is death\u2014the merit of your sufferings is life! If my sins mount up to heaven\u2014your mercy is above the heavens! Though my sins reach to the very throne to accuse me\u2014there is ONE upon the throne who will not condemn me! My sins, in their seven-fold abominations, can rise no higher than the throne, but the rainbow of redeeming love and grace is both around and above the throne, and that in its seven-fold beauties\u2014power, wisdom, justice, goodness, holiness, mercy, and truth. And as all the different rays meet in one glorious beam of light, so all the attributes, all the perfections of God, are summed up in LOVE! God is graciously pleased to be called by his favorite name, “God is love!” By the mingling rays of this beauteous rainbow, all my blackness is removed, and I am clothed with his beauty!<\/p>\n

When I look to myself and see my vileness and necessity–I am confounded with shame! But when I look to you, and see your fullness and all-sufficiency, I am confounded with wonder! Am I weak? He is my strength. Am I foolish? He is my wisdom! Am I wicked? He is my righteousness! Am I impure? He is my sanctification! Am I in bondage? He is my complete redemption! Am I in misery? From him tender mercy flows. Am I deceitful? He is wholly truth! In a word, am I enmity itself? Then he is love itself which passes understanding! Mine is but the enmity of a creature\u2014but his love is the love of God!<\/p>\n

Sin may raise the tempest of wrath, but can do no more. But Christ not only calms the raging tempest, but gives peace of conscience, flowing from intimations of peace with God, and makes me heir of all things! Where sin abounded\u2014grace did much more abound! Where misery has surrounded me\u2014mercy has crowned me! Sin is too strong for me\u2014but your grace is too strong for sin!<\/p>\n

Why, then, am I so vexed with fears, doubts, and unbelief? Because I am sinful? On that very account, Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin\u2014that I, who knew no righteousness, might be made the righteousness of God in him. But I am a great sinner! Then, he is a Savior, and a great One! Where is boasting now soul? See\u2014it is great mercy in God, great merit in Christ\u2014which saves a great sinner! Since rich and free grace builds the temple of salvation, let it have all the glory!<\/p>\n

But I fall often into the same sin! That is my failing, over which I ought to mourn, and by which I should be driven out of all boasting in my own holiness, high attainments, and religious duties; and cry, with tears of holy joy, “Grace, grace to him that has laid the foundation, carries on the whole work of redemption, and will, with shouting bring forth the topstone!”<\/p>\n

Now, law<\/strong>, what have you to do with me? Go to my Surety, Jesus. O curse<\/strong>! you have lighted on his head, that the blessing might rest on mine! The brandished sword of justice, is beaten into the pruning-hook of the promise\u2014that I may even plead justice for the blessing, as well as the performance of the promise.<\/p>\n

Though once I dared not lift my eyes heavenward, for fear of divine wrath\u2014yet now I may come boldly to the throne of grace, and claim the blessings of his purchase!<\/p>\n

In fine, it is the glory of the Son of God that I am saved. Even if he had no concern for my immortal soul, yet he is jealous of his own glory, and will not cast his honor away, the honor of his justice, the honor of his love, the honor of his merits, and the honor of his word of promise\u2014all which are concerned in my salvation. Nothing could hinder him to love me\u2014what then shall make him hate me, seeing his love is stronger than death? He loved me when I was in a state of enmity against him\u2014and now, when I am reconciled to him, will he be angry with me, now when I love him who first loved me? His love found me when I was wandering from him\u2014and will he abandon me now when I am panting and seeking after him? When I was altogether sin, he had mercy on me; and will he now take vengeance upon me, when I am mourning over sin, and grieved that I offend him? I had no claim, no qualification that could cause his love to descend on me, and abide with me; but his love, in his sovereignty visited me\u2014and in sovereignty will dwell with me forever! And though my sin offends him\u2014I shall never sin away his love, nor his presence altogether. For he shall appear the second time without sin\u2014and deliver me from all my inherent sinfulness!<\/p>\n

Though my sin is my burden\u2014it shall not be my bane! Yet I shall never willingly let the traitor rest in my bosom\u2014which would persuade my soul into rebellion against my dearest Lord, and best friend. I may have continual war with the invader\u2014but shall obtain the victory at last! Meanwhile, I will grieve more for offending him whose name is Love, by my sin\u2014than for the clouds, afflictions, and chastisements which seize me because of my sinfulness.<\/p>\n

Now, with the arms of my faith, I clasp the promise\u2014and Jesus in the promise! Here will I live, and here will I die, blessing God, who causes me always to triumph in Jesus Christ my Lord!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the paradoxes of salvation in Christ is that it is both vast and narrow at the same time.\u00a0 There is vastness in salvation by Christ.\u00a0 His blood cleanses the deepest stain.\u00a0 Christ saves sinners who are in the deepest depths of sin.\u00a0 Christ the Good Shepherd finds and brings home the lost sheep […]<\/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-2873","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\/2873","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=2873"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2875,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873\/revisions\/2875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}