{"id":5743,"date":"2020-07-05T07:25:10","date_gmt":"2020-07-05T07:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5743"},"modified":"2020-07-05T07:25:10","modified_gmt":"2020-07-05T07:25:10","slug":"bulletin-edition-july-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=5743","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition July 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An experimental Christian<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Winslow, “This God is Our God”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The religion of the true believer is\nexperimental;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

it is the religion of the heart. He has no\ndealings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

with an unknown, imaginary God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He does not know God from the hearing of\nthe ear,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

or from the reading of books, or from the\nreligious<\/p>\n\n\n\n

conversation of others merely; but He\nknows Him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

from personal acquaintance, from heartfelt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

experience, from close and constant\ndealings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been a manifestation of God in\nChrist to his<\/p>\n\n\n\n

soul, and with Job he can say, “I\nhave heard of You<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye\nsees You.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with the converted Samaritans,\n“We no longer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

believe just because of what you said; now\nwe have<\/p>\n\n\n\n

heard for ourselves, and we know that this\nman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

really is the Savior of the world.”\nJohn 4:42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh to be a true, an experimental Christian!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The religion of the ear, or of the eye, or\nof the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

imagination, or of the intellect, will\nnot, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

cannot bring the soul to heaven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The abodes of endless woe are peopled with<\/p>\n\n\n\n

souls who went down to its regions of\ndespair<\/p>\n\n\n\n

with no better religion than this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, give me…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the humility of the publican,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the trembling faith of the diseased woman,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the flowing tears of the penitent\nMagdalene,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the last petition of the dying thief,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rather than the most intellectual religion\nor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the most gorgeous ceremonial that the mind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ever invented, or the eye ever beheld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Lord, give to me your mercies,\nthe salvation that you promised me. Then I will have an answer for those who\ntaunt me, for I trust in your word.” Psalm 119:41-42<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A living soul wants to return an answer to\nthe one who reproaches him. But he cannot do it of himself, for he has not a\nword to speak in self-justification; that is utterly cut off; and therefore he\nneeds to have that which shall furnish him with an answer to these reproaches.\nAnd what alone can furnish him with an answer? The mercies of God in his soul.\n“Lord, give to me your mercies, the salvation that you promised me. Then I\nwill have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.” The\ncoming in of “mercies” into the soul, and the manifestation of\n“salvation” to the heart afford an answer “for those who taunt\nme.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you will observe, the word\n“mercies” is in the plural number, there being many mercies; but\n“salvation” is in the singular number, there being only one\nsalvation. In what way, then, did the Psalmist want these mercies? Merely as\nstanding in the letter of the word? Only as recorded in the inspired word of\ntruth? As things to look at, as objects hung up, as it were, in a picture, merely\nfor the eye to gaze upon? No; he wanted them in his heart, to “come to\nhim,” to visit him, to be breathed into him, to be made part and parcel of\nhim, to be the life-blood that should circulate in his veins, to be the very\nkingdom of God set up with power in his soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And why did he want internal mercies?\nBecause he had internal reproaches. Why did he need mercies in his soul?\nBecause condemnation was in his soul. It was there the sentence of death was\nwritten; it was there the sentence of acquittal was to be recorded. It was\nthere that reproach was felt; it was there the answer to the reproach was to be\ngiven. If the reproach were merely outward, the answer might be outward also;\nbut the reproof being inward, in the heart, in the conscience, in the feelings,\nit was needed that the answer should be in the same place, written in the same\nspot, engraved in the same tablets, and brought home with the same or far\ngreater power, so as to be a sufficient answer to the reproaches of him that\nreproached him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theological controversies and disputes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Letters of John Newton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not to expect others to see with my\neyes! I am deeply convinced of the truth of John the Baptist’s aphorism in John\n3:27, “A man can receive nothing\u2014except it be given him from Heaven.”\nI well know, that the little measure of knowledge I have obtained in the things\nof God\u2014has not been owing to my own wisdom and teachableness, but to God’s\ngoodness. Nor did I learn everything all at once\u2014God has been pleased to\nexercise much patience towards me, for the past twenty-seven years\u2014since He\nfirst gave me a desire of learning from Himself. He has graciously accommodated\nHimself to my weakness, borne with my mistakes, and helped me through\ninnumerable prejudices, which, but for His mercy, would have been insuperable\nhindrances! I have therefore no right to be angry, impatient, or censorious to\nothers, especially as I have still much to learn, and am so poorly influenced\nby what I seem to know!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am weary of theological controversies\nand disputes, and desire to choose for myself, and to point out to others,\nMary’s part\u2014to sit at Jesus’ feet, and to hear His words. I cannot, I must not,\nI dare not\u2014be contentious! Only, as a witness for God, I am ready to bear my\nsimple testimony to what I have known of His truth, whenever I am properly\ncalled to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What is hope? The beauteous sun<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which colors all it shines upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beacon of life’s dreary sea,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The star of immortality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fountain of feeling, young and warm;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A day-beam bursting through the storm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tone of melody, whose lute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is, oh! too sweet for earth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A blossom of that radiant tree,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whose fruit the angels only see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A beauty and a charm, whose power<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is seen, enjoyed, confessed each hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portion of the world to come,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When earth and ocean meet-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the last overwhelming doom.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Octavius Winslow<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The free grace of God!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Letters of John Newton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“By the grace of God I am what I\nam!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Corinthians 15:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The true Christian is sensible and mindful\nof<\/p>\n\n\n\n

indwelling sin. He confesses that in\neverything<\/p>\n\n\n\n

he comes exceedingly short, and that his\nbest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

services are not only defective\u2014but\ndefiled. He<\/p>\n\n\n\n

accounts himself as an unprofitable\nservant\u2014and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

is abased in his own eyes. He knows that\nall that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

distinguishes him from the vilest of\nmen\u2014is the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

free grace of God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He derives all his hope and comfort, as\nwell as his<\/p>\n\n\n\n

strength\u2014from Jesus, whom he has known,\nreceived<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and loved, and to whom he has committed\nhis soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He renounces all confidence in the flesh,\nand esteems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

all things as loss\u2014compared to the\nsurpassing greatness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of knowing Jesus Christ his Lord, for\nwhose sake he has<\/p>\n\n\n\n

lost all things\u2014considering them rubbish,\nthat he may<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gain Christ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“O\nLord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for you–be our arm every morning,\nour salvation also in the time of trouble.”<\/em><\/strong> Isaiah\n33:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Israel\nhas often to pass through times of sorrow and trouble. Deep temporal and deep\nspiritual trouble is the allotted portion of many, if not of most of the people\nof God. But having found that the Lord is a Savior, and the only Savior who can\nsupport in trouble and deliver out of trouble, there is this conviction deeply\nimplanted and firmly written upon their heart, that he is a Savior in the time\nof trouble. It is the purpose of God to hunt us out of all lying refuges, that\nwe may believe in Jesus to the saving of our soul; that we may prove that he is\nable to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him; that we may learn what\nsalvation is, and that we may know it for ourselves as a divine and blessed\nreality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus\nthough he is always a Savior, yet he is not experimentally a Savior in times of\nworldly ease, carnal prosperity, and seasons of carelessness. But in times of\ntrouble, when none can do us any good or stretch forth a healing hand but the\nLord alone, then to come to his gracious Majesty and find there and then how he\ncan and does save in trouble and out of trouble, this is that which endears\nsuch a Savior to believing hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nobserve the expression, “time of trouble,” and how it includes not\nonly every trouble which may befall us temporally or spiritually, but clearly\nintimates that there is not a single season or time when trouble comes that the\nLord is not able and willing to save us out of it. How well this corresponds\nwith those gracious words and that sweet promise, “Call upon me in the day\nof trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ndoctrine of creature merit?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Winslow,\n“The God of Grace”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Salvation\nis of the Lord.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salvation\nis but the unfolding of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

boundless\ngrace of God to lost, vile,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and\nhell deserving sinners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nthe religions of men; and their name<\/p>\n\n\n\n

is\n“legion”; are based upon the principle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of\nhuman merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nare founded upon some imagined good<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and\npower in the creature, the effect of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

which\nis totally to set aside the Atonement<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of\nChrist and the work of the Holy Spirit in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the\nsoul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In\nfact, the doctrine of creature merit is<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the\nfatal element of man’s religion, the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

moral\npoison of his soul; the remedy for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

which\nis only found in a believing reception<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and\nheart felt experience of the free grace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

salvation\nof the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nwhole plan of salvation is based<\/p>\n\n\n\n

upon\nfree grace, or, in other words,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God’s\nunpurchased favor to sinners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nidea, of course, repudiates and ignores<\/p>\n\n\n\n

all\nworth and worthiness whatever on the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

part\nof the creature, man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human\nmerit, therefore, is entirely excluded<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as\nan element entering into our salvation; the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

whole\nscheme, from first to last, being by grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ\ndied, not for saints, but for sinners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\nreceives, not the worthy, but the unworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\ncame to heal, not the whole, but the sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\ncame to call, not the righteous, but sinners, to repentance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salvation,\nfrom first to last, is of free grace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nRejection of the Gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

C.H.Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\nthe gospel was first preached, instead of being accepted and admired, one\nuniversal hiss went up to heaven; men could not bear it; its first preacher\nthey dragged to the edge of the cliff, and would have sent Him down headlong;\nyes, they did more-they nailed Him to a cross, and there they let Him spend His\ndying life in agony such as no man has borne since. All His chosen ministers\nhave been hated and abhorred by the worldly; instead of being listened to, they\nhave been scoffed at; treated as if they were rubbish, and the very scum of\nmankind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look\nat the holy men in the early days of the church, how they were driven from city\nto city, persecuted, afflicted, tormented, stoned to death, wherever the enemy\nhad power to do so. Those friends of men, those real philanthropists, who came\nwith hearts big with love, and hands full of mercy, and lips pregnant with\ncelestial fire, and souls burned with holy influence; those men were treated as\nif they were spies in the camp, as if they were deserters from the common cause\nof mankind; as if they were enemies, and not, as they truly were, the best of\nfriends. Do not suppose that men like the gospel any better now than they did\nthen. There is an idea that you are growing better; but the heart within is\nstill the same. The human heart of today dissected, would be just like the\nhuman heart a thousand years ago; the gall of bitterness within that bosom of\nyours, is just as bitter as the gall of bitterness of Simon of old. We have in\nour hearts the same inherent opposition to the truth of God; and hence we find\nmen, just as in the past, who scorn the gospel. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An experimental Christian (Winslow, “This God is Our God”) The religion of the true believer is experimental; it is the religion of the heart. He has no dealings with an unknown, imaginary God. He does not know God from the hearing of the ear, or from the reading of books, or from the religious conversation […]<\/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-5743","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\/5743","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=5743"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5744,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5743\/revisions\/5744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}