Eternal Redemption
\u201cIn Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of\u00a0
sins\u201d Colossians 1:14
The exact and effectual redemption of God Almighty\u2019s elect church is an\u00a0
eternal redemption secured by one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, God\u2019s\u00a0
sacrificial Lamb. The redemption accomplished by our Surety in time did\u00a0
not originate in time, neither will it cease in time. Christ is the Lamb\u00a0
slain from the foundation of the world (Re 13:8), He was the Lamb on the\u00a0
cross (1 Peter 1:18-20), and He is now the Lamb in the midst of the\u00a0
throne (Re 7:17). Time makes no impression on the purpose of God. The\u00a0
purpose of God dictates all past, present and future history in time.
Therefore we have redemption in Christ through His blood, even the\u00a0
forgiveness of sins, without beginning and without end according to\u00a0
God\u2019s eternal purpose of grace. Christ died for us in time and we are\u00a0
given faith and regenerated in time as a result of God\u2019s everlasting\u00a0
love for us manifested in the vicarious blood shedding of the Christ of\u00a0
God. \u201cWe have redemption\u201d can only be said of and by those who have\u00a0
Christ – \u201cBut of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us\u00a0
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption\u201d\u00a0
1Corithians 1:30. This will never change! Heaven and earth shall pass\u00a0
away, but the redeemed have never been and will never be unredeemed! \u201c\u2026\u00a0
for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of\u00a0
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation\u201d Revelation 5:9.
Christ has obtained that which the triune God purposed \u2026 His people have\u00a0
obtained it as well because He obtained it for us – \u201cNeither by the\u00a0
blood of goats and calves, but by His Own blood He entered in once into\u00a0
the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us\u201d Hebrews 9:12.\u00a0
Away with universal redemption and the free-will of man! Thank God for\u00a0
His free will in the eternal redemption of once dead, chosen sinners!\u00a0
Even the forgiveness of sins!
Tommy Robbins
Covenant Mercies
Tom Harding
Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and\u00a0
the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and\u00a0
the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me,\u00a0
and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of\u00a0
Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the\u00a0
fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun\u00a0
riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out\u00a0
of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so\u00a0
with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in\u00a0
all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire,\u00a0
although he make it not to grow. (2 Sam.23:1-5)
Sometimes the last words of a man are regarded, remembered and sometimes\u00a0
even recorded for all to read and think upon. Certainly this is true of\u00a0
David. God is about to call him home to glory, in this special time, he\u00a0
found his comfort, hope, and salvation in God\u2019s covenant of mercy and\u00a0
grace revealed in Jesus Christ, Who is the Surety of the Covenant (Heb.\u00a0
7:22). Although David had won many victories, even reigned over Israel\u00a0
for forty years as God\u2019s King, and was used of God to write many Psalms,\u00a0
his hope of salvation was not what he accomplished, but rather in Christ\u00a0
alone. David describes the hope of every believer in verse five (2Sam.\u00a0
23:5). Although we are sinners (Psalm 51:5), although we are guilty\u00a0
before God (Rom. 3:19), although we deserve nothing but judgment and\u00a0
God\u2019s wrath (Rom. 6:23); yet, God delights to show mercy because of the\u00a0
eternal covenant of grace made with Christ Jesus before the world began\u00a0
(Heb. 13:20). Our sinful condition does not hinder His almighty purpose\u00a0
and grace in Christ (Dan.4:35; Ro.5:6).
Remember these five things about this covenant of grace in Christ!
1). This covenant of grace is everlasting!
Everlasting in its council. Before there was a sinner there was a\u00a0
Saviour. Before Adam fell, the Surety stood (Rev.13:8). Everlasting in\u00a0
its continuance. Whatever God does it shall be forever (Eccl. 3:14).\u00a0
Everlasting in its consequences. The believer is predestinated to be\u00a0
conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28-30).
2). This covenant of grace is ordered in all things!
The mercies and grace of God are not left to luck, chance nor the\u00a0
sinner\u2019s depraved will, but to the determinate council and purpose of\u00a0
God (Eph. 1:3-6). This places the accomplishment of our salvation not in\u00a0
our hands, but in the hands of Christ alone, Who cannot fail (Isa.\u00a0
42:4). Salvation is of the Lord!
3). This covenant of grace is sure!
It stands upon a sure foundation. The Lord Christ Jesus is the\u00a0
foundation upon which this covenant rests, He is the solid Rock (2\u00a0
Tim.2:19; Isa. 28:16).
4). This covenant of grace is all my salvation (Heb. 13:20)!
It is completely upon Jesus Christ, His person, sacrifice and\u00a0
righteousness that the believer has any measure of confidence in\u00a0
salvation. Jesus Christ is not a way, He is the Way, Truth and Life (\u00a0
John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Col. 2:9-10).
5). This covenant of grace is all my desire!
We rejoice in Jesus Christ and have no confidence in the flesh. We\u00a0
desire to know more about Jesus Christ and to grow in grace and in the\u00a0
knowledge of Him (Phil. 3:3-9). This is the earnest desire of every\u00a0
believer (Matt. 11:25-28; 1Pet. 2:2)!
Peter\u2019s Sin And Repentance
Tom Harding
Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock\u00a0
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.\u00a0
(Matt. 26:75).
There has been much written and said of Peter\u2019s failure and sin when he\u00a0
denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, but not much of Peter\u2019s\u00a0
conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter\u00a0
sinned, but he did not lose his salvation. His faith was weak, but not\u00a0
dead. He sinned and failed miserably, but he was not forsaken (Heb.\u00a0
13:5). God brought Peter through this trial and granted him strength,\u00a0
recovery and a constant heart of repentance before God (Acts 5:11;\u00a0
11:18). Here are four things we learn from Peter\u2019s trial and repentance.
1). It was the working of God\u2019s sovereign providence. \u201cThen began he to\u00a0
curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock\u00a0
crew.\u201d God used a rooster to bring to Peter\u2019s mind what the Lord had\u00a0
said (Matt. 26:34). Often in the believer\u2019s life God uses small\u00a0
insignificant things to bring us to a remembrance of the gospel. Despise\u00a0
not the day of small things (Zech. 4:10; Rom. 11:36).
2). It was the working of the effectual word of God. \u201cPeter remembered\u00a0
the word of Jesus.\u201d It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to\u00a0
quicken us and to reveal Himself to us (1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor. 4:5-7; James\u00a0
1:18; 1Peter 1:23). It is through the ministry of the Word, hearing and\u00a0
believing the word that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ\u00a0
(1Peter 2:2; 1Thes. 2:13).
3). It was the working of the powerful grace of God. \u201cThe Lord turned,\u00a0
and looked upon Peter\u201d (Luke 22:61). The Lord looked upon Peter in pity,\u00a0
love and pardon and I am sure that Peter also looked upon the Lord.\u00a0
Their eyes were fastened upon one another and Peter\u2019s heart melted\u00a0
within him. It is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance (Rom.\u00a0
2:4).
4). It was the working of Jesus Christ as our blessed Mediator. \u201cThe\u00a0
Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he\u00a0
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail\u00a0
not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren\u201d (Luke 22:31).\u00a0
Peter\u2019s faith was sorely tried, but it was not utterly destroyed (1Peter\u00a0
1:5). Christ stood as his ever-living Mediator (Heb.7:25)! Peter was\u00a0
made stronger through this trial and was sent to preach the gospel to\u00a0
others.
We know the rest of the story of Peter\u2019s life. He stood at Pentecost and\u00a0
preached the gospel to thousands and the Lord added to His church daily\u00a0
such as should be saved (Acts. 2: 41-47).
The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together:
for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 40.5).
There can be no sweeter sight to the eye of the child of God than to see\u00a0
His Savior glorified in the sight of all flesh. To the child of God, the\u00a0
truth of the gospel is not merely doctrine to be debated and defended,\u00a0
or even just a body of settled truth to be confessed as a matter of\u00a0
orthodox religion. No, to the believer the gospel of the Lord Jesus is a\u00a0
declaration of the glory of the One who loved him and gave Himself for\u00a0
him. It is a portrait of his Beloved, and he could no more tolerate a\u00a0
corruption of the truth than a woman could tolerate that a picture of\u00a0
her beloved husband should be desecrated in her presence.
What patience does the church exhibit as she sets forth the truth of her\u00a0
heavenly husband and lovingly instructs the children of the Kingdom\u00a0
giving time for them to absorb and come to terms with the truth. But see\u00a0
her kind face flash with anger when her Husband is insulted by a\u00a0
rebellious refusal to acknowledge His sovereign rights. Many\u00a0
religionists become upset when their particular form of religion is\u00a0
assaulted for they take it as an insult against them. But for the church\u00a0
of the Lord Jesus, it is not her own glory for which she is jealous, but\u00a0
for the glory of the One Who loved her and gave Himself for her.
It may be tempting to establish theological benchmarks and test all men\u00a0
by these. The danger in such a system is that it easily taps into our\u00a0
innate self-righteousness and can make us act as theological legalists.\u00a0
Instead, let us be enamored of the glory of the Lord Jesus. Then, as we\u00a0
make our way in this religious world we will know who it is that has\u00a0
seen the same Savior as we have seen, and we will be fit to defend His\u00a0
glory in this world.
Joe Terrell
COME UNTO CHRIST
Are you laboring under the burden of the law? Christ fulfilled the law\u00a0
for his people. He is the end of the law for righteousness to all who\u00a0
believe. Christ says, \u201cCome unto me and I will give you rest!\u201d (Mt 11:\u00a0
28) Are you heavy laden under the heavy load of guilt from your sin?\u00a0
Christ put away the sin of his people on the cross. Christ says, \u201cCome\u00a0
unto me and I will give your rest!\u201d Are you under the weight of your old\u00a0
fleshly man? The old sinful man in Christ\u2019s people was crucified when\u00a0
Christ was crucified. So Christ says, \u201cCome unto me and I will give you\u00a0
rest.\u201d Are you loaded down with the burden of this life? To those who\u00a0
come to Christ, he says \u201cMy peace I give unto you: not as the world\u00a0
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it\u00a0
be afraid\u2026.in me ye have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:\u00a0
but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world\u2026\u201d (Jn 14: 27; 16: 33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s King is King Already<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 5,000 men sat on the side of a mountain in the lush grass and
\nlistened to the gracious words of Him who was the gospel incarnate.
\nHaving heard His precious words they ate their fill of a basket
\ncontaining five barley loaves and two small\nfishes.
\nThis God did by Him in their midst to confirm\nHis person and offices
\n(Acts 2: 22). Having satisfied their\nreligious curiosity and mixing His
\nwords with their own reasoning and logic,\nthey rose up with an ignorant
\nzeal intending to make Him a king by force.\nPerceiving their selfish and
\ncarnal motives, the Lord withdrew himself\nfrom their numbers and went
\ninto the mountain alone.
\nEvery fallen son of Adam believes he has the\npower and ability to
\neffectually resist the living God, alter His\nwill, and by his own
\nauthority allow him to do or not do certain\nthings. David calls this in
\nPsalm 2 a vain imagination. \u201cHe that sitteth\nin the heavens shall laugh;
\nthe Lord will have them in derision (Psalm 2:\n4).\u201d
\n\u201cYet have I set my King upon my holy hill in\nZion. I will declare the
\ndecree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art\nmy Son; this day have I
\nbegotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give\nthee the heathen for thy
\ninheritance, and the uttermost parts of the\nearth for thy possession.
\n(Psalm 2: 6-8).\u201d This is not that day in\nBethlehem when Mary brought
\nforth the promised seed but the eternal\nbegetting of the mediator King.
\nGod\u2019s King is King already! God hath set Him\nby decree upon his holy
\nhill in Zion. This is the eternal generation\nof Christ and includes all
\nof his offices, all of his work, all of the\nmeans, and all whom he
\nrepresented.
\nHis reign is without contest, without\nassistance, and without question.
\n\u2018None can stay his hand or say unto him, what\ndoest thou (Daniel 4:
\n35).\u201d \u201cIn his times he shall show, who is the\nblessed and only
\nPotentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of\nLords (I Timothy 6: 15).\u201d As
\nfallen sons of Adam the best thing we can do\nis to fall prostrate at his
\nfeet, and be thankful for his rule which has\nbeen established in him to
\nsave sinners for the glory of his name. (John\n17: 2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Darvin Pruitt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eternal Redemption \u201cIn Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of\u00a0 sins\u201d Colossians 1:14 The exact and effectual redemption of God Almighty\u2019s elect church is an\u00a0 eternal redemption secured by one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, God\u2019s\u00a0 sacrificial Lamb. The redemption accomplished by our Surety in time did\u00a0 not originate in time, […]<\/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-5262","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\/5262","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=5262"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5268,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5262\/revisions\/5268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}