THE Promise of God
\nMaurice Montgomery
\nThe promises of God, \u201csaid one man, \u201care like the clothes we wear; if
\nthere is life in the body, they warm us, but not otherwise. Where there
\nis living faith, God\u2019s promises afford warm comfort.\u201d Thus we can say
\nwith Luther, \u201cAlthough I am a sinner, yet I despair not; for Christ, who
\nis my Redeemer and righteousness, liveth. In Him I have no sin, no fear,
\nno sting of conscience, and no fear of judgment. In Christ there is no
\ncondemnation. I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life, but I
\nhave a righteousness of God which is above this life, who is Christ my
\nLord. In Him I rejoice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walk In Love
\nAnd walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself
\nfor us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
\nEph 5:2
\nHere we see the motive for the performance of all duties and
\nresponsibilities (which are really privileges and blessings) of
\nbelievers in regard to Christ and each other. The child of God needs not
\na law or rules to direct him in his walk or govern his life. He has what
\nhe needs – Christ\u2019s love for him. With Christ and His love for us in
\nview how could we not love Him and our brethren. The love of God
\nmanifest in Christ giving Himself for us \u201cis shed abroad in our hearts
\nby the Holy Ghost which is given unto us\u201d Romans 5:5. This love is
\nmanifest in our conversation or, walk, not just lip service – \u201cMy little
\nchildren, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in
\ntruth\u201d 1John 3:18. Our Lord, constrained by love, lived His life for His
\nsheep and died for His sheep. Because He loves His own He now provides
\nfor us, He protects us, He comforts us, He forgives us, He intercedes
\nfor us, He blesses us with all Spiritual blessings and all temporal
\nblessings. He walked in love here on this earth until His death, and now
\nHe reigns in love at the right hand of the Father. It is His desire
\n(which shall be accomplished) that all whom He loves shall be with Him
\nin Glory, eternally. Is this not the motive and attitude of those who
\nknow Him? To be like Him? My brethren, because He walked in love for us
\neverything will be alright. As the body of Christ walks in love for Him,
\nHis gospel and for one another, everything will be alright. As we are
\nmere mortals there will be difficulties, trials, and misunderstandings.
\nHowever, as we walk in love, as Christ gave Himself for us and loves us,
\nwe will have peace and seek peace, we will give comfort be comforted, we
\nwill forgive and be forgiven.
\nTommy Robbins.<\/p>\n
The Love Of God
\nTom Harding
\n“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
\nshould be called the sons of God” (1John 3:1).
\nThere is a great deal said in religious circles about the love of God,
\nbut few have a real scriptural concept of the truth of God’s love as it
\nis manifested in the scriptures. The general idea most people have is,
\n“that God loves everybody without exception and is trying His best to
\nsave everybody, but the sinner will not cooperate.\u201d The truth of God’s
\ncharacter revealed in the word is that God is Holy. His love must always
\nbe in harmony with His Holy character as a Just God and Saviour (Isa.
\n45:21). Those for whom He loves in Christ (Rev.1:5), elected in Christ
\n(John 6:37), redeemed in Christ (Eph.1:7) must be justified in Christ
\n(Rom. 8:28-30) and will be called out of bondage into Light (Col.
\n1:12-13). Here are some scriptures that describe this true love of God
\nto His covenant people.<\/p>\n
1). The love of God is manifested and revealed in Jesus Christ
\n(Rom.8:32-39; Eph. 1:3-6; 2Cor.4:6).<\/p>\n
2). The love of God is sovereign and given to whom the Lord pleases
\n(Rom.9:12-16; Eph, 5:25). Outside of Christ, God is a consuming fire
\n(Heb. 12:29).<\/p>\n
3). The love of God is eternal and will never be discontinued (Jer.
\n31:3). God Himself is eternal, therefore His great love must be eternal
\n(Eph. 2:4).<\/p>\n
4). The love of God is sacrificial love and will redeem all His people
\nfrom all their sins (1John 4:10; 3:16; Eph.5:2,25; Matt.1:21; John 10:15).<\/p>\n
5). The love of God is permanent love and will always abide in the
\nbeliever (John 13:1; Mal.3:6; Heb. 13:8).<\/p>\n
6). The love of God is electing love that unconditionally chose us in
\nChrist before the foundation of the world (2Thes. 2:13; John 15:15-16;17:2).<\/p>\n
7). The love of God is unmerited love, we have never done anything to
\ndeserve His favor or mercy (Titus 3:3-7; Rom 5:6-9). The only reason for
\nHis love to us is found in Himself, not in us (Deut.7:7-8).<\/p>\n
8). The love of God is constraining love and motivates everyone who
\nbelieves the gospel, to obedience to Him as a willing, loving bond slave
\nof Christ (2Cor. 5:14; Psa. 65:4; 110:3).<\/p>\n
9). The love of God is Holy love, God in Christ is both a Just God and
\nSaviour (Isa. 45:20-22). His love is regulated by His holy character
\n(Rom. 5:21).<\/p>\n
Love and the Law
\nActs 15: 5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
\nbelieved, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command
\nthem to keep the law of Moses\u20267: Peter rose up, and said unto them,\u202610:
\nNow therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
\ndisciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
\nThis certain sect of the Pharisees not only wanted Christ preached but
\nalso the Law of Moses. Today, the vast majority of messages are centered
\non how man should live, how he ought to treat his fellow man, what he
\nshould be abstaining from and what he should commit himself to. When
\nPeter opposed this error he called it “tempting God.” Why?
\nSuch messages tempt God because they deny that Christ and him crucified
\nis sufficient to create obedience in God’s people. Preaching the law to
\nmake believers obedient tempts God because it denies that the continual
\npreaching of the person of Christ the Lord in whom sinners were chosen,
\nredeemed, regenerated, preserved and shall be conformed unto is enough
\nto make them obedient. It tempts God because it denies that true worship
\nis in the heart and not in the flesh, in the spirit and not in the dead
\nletter.
\nCommanding men to reform their lives tempts God because it is a denial
\nthat Christ’s circumcision of the heart is not sufficient to create a
\nnew inner man who loves God his Savior and the brethren. It is a denial
\nthat Christ’s blood alone purges the conscience from dead works to serve
\nthe living God. Carnal worship tempts God by calling God a liar who says
\nthat the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed the
\nbeliever from Moses’ law of sin and death. Preaching series-after-series
\non abstaining from sexual immorality, or giving, or any other form of
\nmorality, is directly tempting God because it puts confidence in the
\nflesh, points sinners to the flesh, worships the flesh and exalts not
\nGod, but self.
\nTrue believers are obedient to the only ruler of their life, the LORD
\nJesus Christ. Therefore believers desire to hear Christ speaks and to
\nfollow his commands. God’s commandment is fulfilled when love for Christ
\nis implanted in the newly created pure heart, resulting in faith
\nunfeigned. Unfeigned faith needs not disguise itself with a show of
\nmoral reform for it is true faith which worships God in Spirit, rejoices
\nin Christ Jesus and puts no confidence in the flesh. I Ti. 1: 5: Now the
\nend of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
\nconscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6: From which some having swerved
\nhave turned aside unto vain jangling; 7: Desiring to be teachers of the
\nlaw; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
\nClay Curtis<\/p>\n
Is it Really True?
\n\u201cAs he is, so are we in this world\u201d (1 John 4:17).
\nWe all know that believers in this world bear a likeness to our Lord in
\nhis humiliation. As he was in this world, so are we in this world. As he
\nwas a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, so are we. As he was the
\nobject of the world\u2019s hatred, so are we. As he was tempted by Satan, so
\nare we. As he was despised and forsaken of men, so are we. As he went
\nthrough many sufferings and death to glory, so must we. It is a great
\nblessing of grace and a wondrous condescension of mercy that we should
\nhave such a likeness to our Redeemer.<\/p>\n
But the Book of God does not say, \u201cAs he was.\u201d It says, \u201cAs he is, so
\nare we.\u201d Is that an inspired exaggeration, or is it really true? It is
\nreally true! It cannot be otherwise. We are in him; and he is in us! We
\nare joined to him, built upon him, and united to him, but more. We are
\none with him, as truly one with him as he is one with the Father (John
\n17:23). All the glory the Father has given to the Son as our Mediator,
\nthe Son has given to us (John 17:5, 22). And, now, in answer to our
\nSavior\u2019s prayer, God\u2019s love is made perfect in us in the blessed
\nexperience of grace, assuring us that we shall \u201chave boldness in the day
\nof judgment.\u201d And the cause, the ground, the basis of that assurance and
\nboldness is this: \u2014 \u201cAs he is, so are we in this world!\u201d<\/p>\n
As he is the Son of God, we are the sons of God. As he is loved by God
\nwith an everlasting and unchangeable love of complacency and delight, so
\nare we. Yes, God loves us just as he loves his well beloved Son (John
\n17:23-24). As Christ is chosen of God and precious, so are we (Isa.
\n42:1; 1 Pet. 1:2.) Is he well-pleasing to God, one in whom the triune
\nGod delights? So are we (Isa. 42:1, Matt. 17:5; Psa. 37:23; 1 Pet. 2:5).
\nOh blessed grace! \u2014 As he who was made sin for us is justified and
\nacquitted from sin, so are we. As our Lord Jesus is perfectly righteous,
\nso are we! I pray that God the Holy Spirit will give you grace to grasp
\nthis sweet revelation of the gospel! \u2014 Christ is all our righteousness,
\nand we are immaculately righteous in him.<\/p>\n
With His spotless garments on
\nI am as holy as God\u2019s Son!
\nIs he without sin? So are we! \u2014 \u201cIn him is no sin.\u201d And, if I am in him,
\nI am freed from, justified from, and cleansed from all sin in him (1
\nPet. 4:1-2).<\/p>\n
Behold the Christ of God in all the fulness of his glory, and rejoice! \u2014
\n\u201cBecause as he is, so are we in this world.\u201d Is he Heir of all things?
\nSo are we (Heb. 1:2; Rom. 8:17). Is the Lord Jesus dearly beloved of
\nGod? So are we (Rom. 1:7; 2 Cor. 12:19). O blessed wonder of grace! Yet,
\nhow could it be otherwise? Christ and his people are one (Eph. 1:23;
\nHeb. 2:11). \u201cWe are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones\u201d
\n(Eph. 5:30). We are so really and truly one that he calls himself by our
\nname and calls us by his (Isa. 41:8; 49:3; Jer. 23:6; 33:16). Yes, it is
\nreally true, more really true than we can yet imagine, \u2014 \u201cAs he is, so
\nare we in this world!\u201d
\nDon Fortner<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Promise of God Maurice Montgomery The promises of God, \u201csaid one man, \u201care like the clothes we wear; if there is life in the body, they warm us, but not otherwise. Where there is living faith, God\u2019s promises afford warm comfort.\u201d Thus we can say with Luther, \u201cAlthough I am a sinner, yet I […]<\/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-4824","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\/4824","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=4824"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4825,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4824\/revisions\/4825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}