{"id":5564,"date":"2020-02-02T08:19:16","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T08:19:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5564"},"modified":"2020-02-02T08:19:16","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T08:19:16","slug":"bulletin-edition-february-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5564","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition February 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Preserving grace before regeneration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(J.C.\nPhilpot, “Daily Words for Zion’s Wayfarers”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To\nthose who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and preserved in\nJesus Christ.” Jude 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a\nmercy it is for God’s people, that before they have a ‘vital union’ with\nChrist, before they are grafted into Him experimentally \u2014 they have an ‘eternal\nunion’ with Him before all worlds. It is by virtue of this eternal union, that\nthey come into the world . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

at such a\ntime,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

at such a\nplace,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

from such\nparents,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

under such\ncircumstances<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 just as\nGod has appointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is by\nvirtue of this eternal union, that all the circumstances of their lives are\nordained. By virtue of this eternal union, they are preserved in Christ before\nthey are effectually called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\ncannot die \u2014 until God has brought about a vital union with Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever\nsickness they may pass through, whatever injuries they may be exposed to,\nwhatever perils assault them on sea or land \u2014 die they will not, die they\ncannot \u2014 until God’s purposes are executed in bringing them into a vital union\nwith the Son of His love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, this\neternal union watched over every circumstance of their birth, watched over\ntheir childhood, watched over their manhood \u2014 watched over them until the\nappointed time and spot, when “the God of all grace,” according to\nHis eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken their souls, and thus bring about\nan experimental union with the Lord of life and glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Distinguishing\nGrace!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Don\nFortner)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Noah\nfound grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sad\nconsequences there are to sin! That horrible, heart-hatred of God, which\nresides in the hearts of each of Adam’s sons and daughters \u2014 works havoc in the\nearth and will bring us all down to Hell in the end \u2014 unless God intervenes to\nsave. The only hope there is for fallen, depraved, helpless sinners \u2014 is the\nomnipotent intervention of God’s irresistible grace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole\nworld was lost. The whole world was corrupt. The whole of Adam’s race was\ndegenerate and walked in wickedness, provoking the wrath of God. But God, in\ngreat pity, mercy and compassion \u2014 showed Himself gracious to one man.\n“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” God spared Noah. God\nsaved Noah. Through Noah, God preserved his family, preserved our race and thus\npreserved His elect for all generations to come!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed be\nHis name, God does intervene to save! He does not have to save. No mortal will\never seek salvation from Him \u2014 until first he is sought by Him. But God has, in\nindescribable, infinite mercy, chosen to save a people for His own glory \u2014 and\nsave them, He will!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\nhave loved you, My people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have\ndrawn you to Myself!” Jeremiah 31:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A union\nwhich will last forever!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John\nMacDuff, “The Christian’s Pathway” 1858″)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My\nBeloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!” Song of Songs 2:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is\nthe language of the Christian in the book of Canticles. How great is the\nblessedness involved in such an assurance! My beloved Jesus is mine . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the\ndignity of His person;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the\nsuitability of His offices;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the\nimmensity of His love;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the\nefficacy of His atonement;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in the\nriches of His abounding grace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His\nrighteousness is mine \u2014 to justify me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Spirit\nis mine \u2014 to sanctify me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His power\nis mine \u2014 to defend me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His wisdom\nis mine \u2014 to guide me, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Heaven\nis mine \u2014 to receive me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what\ndoes Christ say to the believer in return?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am\nyours \u2014 and all that I have is yours! I have boundless and unsearchable riches\n\u2014 and those riches are for you! I have happiness to bestow, such as the mind in\nits largest grasp has never been able to conceive \u2014 and that happiness is for\nyou! I have crowns and scepters at My disposal \u2014 and all those honors are for\nyou! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My glorious\nthrone!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nChristian’s exaltation and bliss is not a matter of doubtful disputation. And\nwhat makes it so certain? It is the blessed truth that the union which exists\nbetween him and Christ \u2014 is an indissoluble union! All other relations, however\nclose and endearing, must be broken. That union of husband and wife; and soul\nand body \u2014 has no power to resist the assault of death, the great destroyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nearthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks every other bond \u2014\nonly strengthens the bond between the Christian and Christ! Death, which\nquenches every other love \u2014 only kindles that of the believer for Jesus, into a\npurer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other object from our\ngrasp \u2014 only brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who is the fountain of\nlife, the great center and source of all blessedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian,\nrejoice in your union with Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nchanges of time cannot touch it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The storms\nof life cannot injure it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sword\nof persecution cannot sever it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The damps\nof death cannot affect it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The malice\nof hell cannot move it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a\nunion which will last forever! It follows, therefore, that you, if a partaker\nof it \u2014 will be rich forever, safe forever, dignified forever, and blessed\nforever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will\nnever perish!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(J. C.\nPhilpot, “The Incorruptible Inheritance” 1865)<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\n1Pet. 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus\nChrist, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a\nlively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1Pet. 1:4\nTo an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,\nreserved in heaven for you,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1Pet. 1:5\nWho are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be\nrevealed in the last time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elect\nare preserved in Christ, BEFORE they are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

called by\ngrace. They are kept by the power of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God from\nperishing in their unregeneracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have not\nyou been almost miraculously preserved in the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

midst of\ndangers, and escaped when others perished by<\/p>\n\n\n\n

your\nside–or been raised up as it were, from the very<\/p>\n\n\n\n

brink of\ndestruction and the very borders of the grave?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides\nsome striking escapes from what are called<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘accidents’,\nthree times in my life–once in infancy, once<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in\nboyhood, and once in manhood, I have been raised<\/p>\n\n\n\n

up from\nthe borders of the grave, when almost everyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

who\nsurrounded my bed thought I would not survive the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

violence\nof the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were not\nthese instances of being kept by the power<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of God? I\ncould not die until God had manifested His<\/p>\n\n\n\n

purposes\nof electing grace and mercy to my soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the\nelect are also kept by the mighty power of God<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFTER they\nare called by grace; for they are in the hollow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of His\nhand, and are kept as the apple of His eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will not\nsay they are kept from all sins. Yet I will<\/p>\n\n\n\n

say that\nthey are kept from damning sins. They are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

kept\nespecially from three things . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

from the\ndominion of sin,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

from\ndaring and final presumption,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

from\nlasting and damnable error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are\nnever drowned in the sins and evils of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

present\nlife so as to be swallowed up in them–for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

it is\nimpossible that they can ever be lost!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are\ntherefore preserved in hours of temptation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

for they\nare guarded by all the power of Omnipotence,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

shielded\nby the unceasing care and watchfulness of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Him who\ncan neither slumber nor sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking\nback through a long vista of years, can you not<\/p>\n\n\n\n

see how\nthe hand of God has been with you–how He has<\/p>\n\n\n\n

held you\nup, and brought you through many a storm, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

preserved\nyou under powerful temptations? How gently<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nsometimes drew you on, or sometimes kept you back?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\ngive them eternal life, and they will never perish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one can\nsnatch them out of My hand!” John 10:28<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having\nchosen us, God begets us with His word,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

regenerates\nus by a divine influence, and makes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

us new\ncreatures by the power and influence of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the Holy\nSpirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John\nNewton’s Letters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulties\nand snares<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April 15,\n1776.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My dear\nSir,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often\nrejoice on your behalf. Your call out of the world was a singular, comfortable\ninstance of the power of grace. And when I consider the difficulties and snares\nof your situation, and that you have been kept in the middle path, preserved\nfrom undue compliances on the one hand, and unnecessary singularities on the\nother, I cannot doubt but the Lord has hitherto helped and guided you. Indeed\nyou have need of his guidance. At your young years, and with your expectations\nin life, your health firm, and your natural spirits lively\u2014you are exposed to\nmany snares. Yet if the Lord keeps you sensible of your danger, and dependent\nupon him, you will walk safely. Your security, success, and comfort, depend\nupon him; and in the way of means of grace\u2014chiefly upon your being preserved in\na humble sense of your own weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is\nwritten, “Fear not, I am with you.” It is written again,\n“Blessed is the man who fears always.” There is a perfect harmony in\nthose seemingly different texts. May the wisdom which comes from above, teach\nyou and I to keep them both united in our view. If the Lord is with us\u2014we have\nno cause of fear. His eye is upon us, his arm is over us, his ear is open to\nour prayer; his grace sufficient, his promise unchangeable. Under his protection,\nthough the path of duty should lie through fire and water\u2014we may cheerfully and\nconfidently pursue it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the\nother hand, our hearts are so deceitful, fallible, and frail; our spiritual\nenemies so subtle, watchful, and powerful; and they derive so many advantages\nfrom the occasions of every day, in which we are unavoidably and unexpectedly\nconcerned; there is so much combustible materials within us, and so many\ntemptations arising from without, capable of setting all in a flame; that we\ncannot be too jealous of ourselves and our circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we\ncan say, in the Psalmist’s spirit, “Hold me up” we may warrantably\ndraw his conclusion, “and I shall be safe!” But the moment we lean to\nour own strength and wisdom\u2014we are in imminent danger of falling. The enemy who\nwars against our souls, is a consummate master in his subtle devices, prolific\nin stratagems, and equally skillful in carrying on his assaults by sap or by\nstorm. He studies us, if I may so say, all round, to discover our weak sides.\nHe is a very proteus for changing his appearances, and can appear as a sly\nserpent, a roaring lion, or an angel of light\u2014as best suits his purpose. It is\na great mercy to be in some measure acquainted with his devices, and aware of\nthem. Those who wait humbly upon the Lord, and consult carefully at his word\nand throne of grace, are made wiser than their enemy\u2014and enabled to escape and\nwithstand his wiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know you\nwill not expect me to apologize for putting you in mind of these things, though\nyou know them. I have a double warrant; the love I bear you, and the Lord’s\ncommand, Heb. 3:13. Use the like freedom with me; I need it, and hope to be\nthankful for it, and accept it as one of the best proofs of friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May the\nLord bless and keep you. Pray for us, and believe me to be sincerely yours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Preserving grace before regeneration (J.C. Philpot, “Daily Words for Zion’s Wayfarers”) “To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ.” Jude 1 What a mercy it is for God’s people, that before they have a ‘vital union’ with Christ, before they are grafted into Him experimentally […]<\/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-5564","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\/5564","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=5564"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5565,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5564\/revisions\/5565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}