“Who gave Himself for us, that He might\nredeem us<\/p>\n\n\n\n
from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no victory over the indwelling power of sin, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
there is no pardon for the guilt of sin, but as the soul deals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
with the blood of Christ. The great end of our dear Lord’s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
death was to destroy the works of the devil. Sin is the great<\/p>\n\n\n\n
work of Satan. To overcome this, to break its power, subdue<\/p>\n\n\n\n
its dominion, repair its ruins, and release from its condemnation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the blessed Son of God suffered the ignominious death of the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cross. All that bitter agony which He endured, all that mental<\/p>\n\n\n\n
suffering, the sorrow of His soul in the garden, the sufferings<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of His body on the cross–all was for sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See, then, the close and beautiful connection between the death<\/p>\n\n\n\n
of Christ–and the death of sin. All true sanctification comes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
through the cross! Seek it there. The cross brought into your<\/p>\n\n\n\n
soul by the eternal Spirit will be the death of your sins. Go to\nthe<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cross! Oh, go to the cross of Jesus! In simplicity of faith, go\nwith<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the strong corruption; go with the burden of guilt; go to the\ncross!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find nothing but love there, nothing but welcome there,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
nothing but purity there. The precious blood of Jesus\n“cleanses us<\/p>\n\n\n\n
from all sin.” And while you are kept low beneath the\ncross, your<\/p>\n\n\n\n
enemy dares not approach you, sin shall not have dominion over<\/p>\n\n\n\n
you, nor shall Satan, your accuser, condemn you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Octavius Winslow<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holding Forth The Word Of Life<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippians 2:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHolding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day\nof Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How many times have you heard someone say, \u201cI don\u2019t read the\nBible because I don\u2019t understand it, and since I don\u2019t understand it, very\nquickly I lose interest in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was once a young lady that began reading a novel and after\na chapter or two, she found the book dull, and losing interest, she placed the\nbook upon her shelf. Later she met a young man, and when the relationship\nbecame more serious, she discovered that he was an author. The title of one of\nhis novels sounded very familiar, and sure enough, it was the same book in\nwhich she had lost interest. She immediately began reading the book again, and\nthis time she couldn\u2019t put the book down. She didn\u2019t stop reading the book\nuntil she had finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What made the difference in this young lady\u2019s attitude toward\nthe same book? She now was fascinated in the book because she had affection for\nand interest in the author. To some, the Word of God, the Bible, may be nothing\nbut fables, dull and confusing. But to the one who personally knows the Author,\nthe Book of life becomes fascinating to them, and they rejoice in the words of\nthe One who wrote it. \n \n \n~David Eddmenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A union which will last forever!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (John MacDuff, “The Christian’s Pathway” 1858″)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “My Beloved is mine \u2014 and I am His!” Song of Songs\n2:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the language of the Christian in the book of Canticles.\nHow great is the blessedness involved in such an assurance! My beloved Jesus is\nmine . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n in the dignity of His person;<\/p>\n\n\n\n in the suitability of His offices;<\/p>\n\n\n\n in the immensity of His love;<\/p>\n\n\n\n in the efficacy of His atonement;<\/p>\n\n\n\n in the riches of His abounding grace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n His righteousness is mine \u2014 to justify me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n His Spirit is mine \u2014 to sanctify me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n His power is mine \u2014 to defend me,<\/p>\n\n\n\n His wisdom is mine \u2014 to guide me, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n His Heaven is mine \u2014 to receive me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what does Christ say to the believer in return?<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I am yours \u2014 and all that I have is yours! I have\nboundless and unsearchable riches \u2014 and those riches are for you! I have\nhappiness to bestow, such as the mind in its largest grasp has never been able\nto conceive \u2014 and that happiness is for you! I have crowns and scepters at My\ndisposal \u2014 and all those honors are for you! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will\ngrant to sit with Me on My glorious throne!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Christian’s exaltation and bliss is not a matter of doubtful\ndisputation. And what makes it so certain? It is the blessed truth that the\nunion which exists between him and Christ \u2014 is an indissoluble union! All other\nrelations, however close and endearing, must be broken. That union of husband\nand wife; and soul and body \u2014 has no power to resist the assault of death, the\ngreat destroyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks\nevery other bond \u2014 only strengthens the bond between the Christian and Christ!\nDeath, which quenches every other love \u2014 only kindles that of the believer for\nJesus, into a purer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other\nobject from our grasp \u2014 only brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who is the\nfountain of life, the great center and source of all blessedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian, rejoice in your union with Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The changes of time cannot touch it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The storms of life cannot injure it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sword of persecution cannot sever it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The damps of death cannot affect it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The malice of hell cannot move it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a union which will last forever! It follows, therefore,\nthat you, if a partaker of it \u2014 will be rich forever, safe forever, dignified\nforever, and blessed forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wash me, gracious Lord!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (John MacDuff, “Evening Incense” 1856)<\/p>\n\n\n\n O my God, I desire to approach the footstool of Your throne of\ngrace. Glory be to Your holy name that I can enjoy freedom of access into Your\npresence, and with the confidence of Your child, unburden and unbosom to You .\n. .<\/p>\n\n\n\n all my needs and sins,<\/p>\n\n\n\n all my sorrows and infirmities,<\/p>\n\n\n\n all my perplexities and cares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lord, how unworthy I am of the least of all Your mercies! What\nrighteous cause have You to cut me down as a cumberer of the ground. How cold\nmy love, how infrequent my prayers! How full is my heart, of pride and\nvain-glory, self and sin! How little have I habitually realized Your nearness,\nand sought Your favor as my chief good! There is enough of coldness and\nformality in my best approaches to Your footstool, to lead You in Your wrath to\nspurn me forever away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me see all my sin in the light of Calvary’s cross!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I cast myself as a worthless unworthy sinner, at the feet of\nJesus. I need daily, hourly washing at that fountain which He has opened for\nsin and for uncleanness. Wash me, gracious Lord\u2014fully, freely, and forever! Let\nme know the blessedness of “no condemnation.” I come with all the great\nburden of my great guilt\u2014to my great Savior! I seek to bring the\nunrighteousness of an unworthy creature, to the infinite righteousness and\neverlasting faithfulness of my loving Redeemer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have borne with all my obstinacy, all my perverseness, and\nwaywardness, and ingratitude. I am at this hour, the monument of a divine\nlove\u2014as wondrous, as it is undeserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where would I have been, blessed Jesus\u2014but for You!<\/p>\n\n\n\n All that I am, and all I have\u2014I owe to Your free, sovereign,\nunmerited grace!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whom have I in Heaven but You\u2014and there is none in all the earth\nI desire besides You. You alone can fill up the aching voids of my heart. In\nvain can I look to a transient world, or to the perishable creature\u2014for solid\npeace and permanent enjoyment. You are the only refuge for my sin-stricken,\nwoe-worn spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I rejoice in the inexhaustible riches treasured up in You\u2014that\nYour fullness is adequate to supply all my necessities; and out of that\nfullness I may still continue receiving, and that forever and ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The Blood Of The Everlasting Covenant” <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hebrews 13:20<\/p>\n\n\n\n The force of a testament, or covenant, is the death of\nthe testator (Heb. 9:16-17). Even so, with regard to the everlasting covenant,\nits benefits and blessings flow to chosen sinners only upon the condition of\nChrist’s death as our Substitute. This was the ultimate stipulation of the\ncovenant. But once fulfilled, the covenant was ratified by blood and its\nblessings cannot, upon any grounds, be withheld from those whose names are\nwritten in the book of life from eternity. I see a fivefold connection between\nthe shed blood of Christ and the covenant of grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. WITH REGARD TO GOD THE SON, the\nshedding of his blood fulfilled everything the Father required and everything\nthe Son agreed to for the salvation of his people. At the close of his earthly\nlife the Son of God had finished the work of establishing a righteousness to be\nimputed to us (John 17:4). When he died at Calvary, our Substitute, by the\nsacrifice of himself, finished the work of atonement and satisfaction (John\n19:30).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. WITH REGARD TO GOD THE FATHER, the\nshed blood of his darling Son puts the Almighty under obligation, inescapable\nobligation, to save all the redeemed,pardon all the ransomed, and give grace\nand glory to all for whom atonement was made. Both the oath of God (Heb.\n6:17-18) and the justice of God (Rom. 3:24-26) compel him to save every soul\nfor whom Christ shed his blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. WITH REGARD TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT,\nthe blood of Christ is that which he sprinkles and effectually applies to the\nhearts of chosen sinners in effectual calling (Heb. 9:12-14), by which he\nproclaims peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. WITH REGARD TO BELIEVERS, the\nsin-atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the solitary ground of peace and\nassurance before God. His blood is God’s token to us for good (Rom. 8:32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n “His oath, His covenant and His blood<\/p>\n\n\n\n Support me in the whelming flood!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. WITH REGARD TO GUILTY SINNERS, the shed blood of Jesus\nChrist, the sinner’s Substitute, is the only way of access to God (Heb. 10:22).\nBut it is a sure way of access to him! Come to God through the blood and he\ncannot refuse you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n This alone is the vexed soul’s refuge!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and\nknowledge!” Colossians 2:3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The one true resting-place where doubt and weariness, the stings\nof a pricking conscience, and the longings of an unsatisfied soul would all be\nquieted\u2014is Christ Himself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not the church, but Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not doctrine, but Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not religious forms and ceremonies, but Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ the God-man . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n giving His life for ours,<\/p>\n\n\n\n sealing the everlasting covenant, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n making peace for us through the blood of His cross!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ the divine storehouse of all light and truth, in whom are\nhidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christ the infinite vessel\u2014the enlightener, the teacher, the\nquickener, the comforter\u2014so that out of His fullness we may receive grace upon\ngrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This, this alone is the vexed soul’s refuge, its rock to build\non, its home to abide in\u2014until the great tempter is bound and every conflict\nended in victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The iniquity of the holy things.” Exodus 28:38<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n C.H.Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n What a veil is lifted up by these words\u2014and what a disclosure is\nmade! It will be humbling and profitable for us to pause awhile, and see this\nsad sight. The iniquities of our public worship\u2014its hypocrisy, formality,\nlukewarmness, irreverence, wandering of heart and forgetfulness of God\u2014what a\nfull measure have we there! The iniquities of our work for the Lord\u2014its\nambition, selfishness, carelessness, slackness, unbelief\u2014what a mass of\ndefilement is there! Our private devotions\u2014their laxity, coldness, neglect,\nsleepiness, and vanity\u2014what a mountain of dead earth is there! If we looked\nmore carefully\u2014we would find this iniquity of the holy things, to be far\ngreater than appears at first sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Payson, writing to his brother, says, “My parish, as well\nas my heart, very much resembles the garden of the sluggard; and what is worse,\nI find that very many of my desires for the improvement of both, proceed either\nfrom pride or vanity or indolence. I look at the weeds which overspread my\ngarden, and breathe out an earnest wish that they were eradicated. But why?\nWhat prompts the wish? It may be that I may walk out and say to myself, ‘In\nwhat fine order is my garden kept!’ This is pride. Or, it may be that my\nneighbors may look over the wall and say, ‘How finely your garden flourishes!’\nThis is vanity. Or I may wish for the destruction of the weeds, because I am\nweary of pulling them up. This is indolence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even our desires after holiness\u2014may be polluted by ill motives.\nUnder the greenest sods\u2014worms hide themselves; we need not look long to\ndiscover them. How cheering is the thought, that when the High Priest bore the\niniquity of the holy things he wore upon his brow the words, “Holiness to\nthe Lord!” Just so, while Jesus bears our sin, He presents before His\nFather’s face, not our unholiness\u2014but His own holiness. O for grace to view our\ngreat High Priest by the eye of faith!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 There is no victory over the indwelling power of sin, and there is no pardon for the guilt of sin, but as the soul deals with the blood of […]<\/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-6099","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\/6099","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=6099"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6099\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6100,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6099\/revisions\/6100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}