The voice from the cross did not summon men\nto do, but to be satisfied with what was done, \u201cIt is finished.\u201d The sacrifice\nof the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect thing which has ever been\npresented to God on man\u2019s behalf. \u201cIt shall be perfect to be accepted, there\nshall be no blemish therein\u201d Lev. 22:21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
~Scott Richardson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey made their hearts as\nan adamant stone.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Zechariah 7:12<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord God declares that the\nheart of fallen man is as obstinate and hard \u201cas an adamant stone<\/em>.\u201d The\nadamant stone is a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness. It was\nthought to be harder than flint (Ezekiel 3:9). How hard, how impenetrable,\nhow unbreakable the heart of man must be, if the Lord God compares it to an\nadamant stone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obdurate Hardness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The obdurate hardness of the\nheart of man is displayed throughout the Scriptures; but it is nowhere\ndisplayed more fully than in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night our dear\nSavior was arrested and led away to the judgment hall. There were among those who\n\u201ctook Jesus, and bound Him, and led Him away<\/em>\u201d (John 18:12-13) a great\nmixture of people. Some of them were Roman soldiers. Some were servants of\nthe priests and Pharisees. Among them were Judas and the Pharisees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But in one\nthing they were all alike. They all \u201cmade their hearts as an adamant stone.<\/em>\u201d\nThey all saw our Savior\u2019s Divine power forcefully exhibited. The soldiers were\ncompelled, by the mere force of our Savior\u2019s name, \u201cI AM,<\/em>\u201d to fall\nbackward as dead men to the ground. All saw the miracle our Lord performed when\nHe touched Malchus\u2019 ear and healed him. Yet all remained unmoved, cold,\nindifferent, insensible, and hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t you\nfind that astonishing? They all acted as if they had seen nothing out of the\nordinary. \u2014 \u201cThey made their hearts as an adamant stone!<\/em>\u201d They\nsaw these things and hardened their hearts, like Pharaoh, and went on coolly\nwith their callous business. \u2014 \u201cThey took Jesus, bound Him, and led Him\naway!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goat\u2019s Blood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, how hard the heart of man is!\nNothing can break it! Nothing can penetrate it! \u2014 Nothing but omnipotent grace!\nBless God, there is hope for such hard hearts! The legendary adamant stone was\nthought the hardest of all stones, harder than flint (Ezekiel 3:9), harder than\nthe nether millstone (Job 41:24). Fire could not burn it, or even cause it to\nbe heated, except on its very surface. The adamant stone could not be broken by\na hammer. Yet, this hardest of all stones, when soaked in a goat\u2019s blood, was\nmelted, dissolved, and broken, like an aspirin in water. So the hardest heart\nof the most obstinate sinner is melted, dissolved, and broken when sprinkled\nwith the precious blood of Christ, the sinner\u2019s Scapegoat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nNothing can break the heart but the almighty, efficacious, irresistible grace\nof God. Nothing can soften the stony, adamant heart except the precious blood\nof Christ sprinkled upon it by the Spirit of God, declaring the forgiveness of\nsin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinner\u2019s Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That is my hope and prayer to God\nfor you. If God the Holy Spirit sprinkles your heart with the blood of Christ,\nif He will apply the blood to you, you will look upon Him you have pierced and\nmourn. Miracles will never penetrate your hard heart. Judgments will\nnever break your heart. Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, though\never so frightening, will never penetrate the heart of a sinner. Affliction\nwill never break it. The law, with all its threats and curses, will never break\nthe heart of man. Hell itself cannot break the rebel heart of man. But the\nblood of Christ can!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nThe blood of Christ, sprinkled on stony hearts as hard an impenetrable as\nadamant, breaks the hard heart of man, humbles the sinner, and bows him as a\ncontrite one before the throne of God\u2019s free grace, causing him to cry like the\nPublican, \u201cGod be propitious to me, the sinner. Have mercy upon me through the\nsin-atoning blood of your dear Son!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHE THAT HATH SEEN ME\nHATH SEEN THE\nFATHER.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n John 14:9<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nis one word in the Bible which in itself forms an entire library, one word\nwhich is the sum and substance of the entire Bible, one word which comprises\nall truth. That word is \u201cChrist.\u201d He is he uncreated, living, eternal Word,\nwhom to know is life eternal. He is the living Word of whom the written Word\nspeaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When\nchosen, redeemed sinners are brought out of darkness into light by the\nirresistible, regenerating grace and power of God the Holy Spirit, when Christ\nis revealed in the chosen vessels of mercy, when they become savingly\nacquainted with this Divine Word, they are \u201cmade wise unto salvation\nthrough faith which is in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/em> (Tit. 3:15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As\nwe are led by the Spirit in the life of faith, enabled by his grace to live\nupon, walk with, and rejoice in the glorious Person and finished\naccomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are brought into what the Apostle\nPaul describes as – \u201cAll the riches of the full assurance of\nunderstanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father,\nand of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge\u201d <\/em>(Col.\n2:2-3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our\nLord\u2019s own statements with regard to this \u201cmystery of God,\u201d<\/em> the\nmystery of the perfect unity and oneness of the Persons in the eternal Godhead\nare plain and clear (John 10:30; 14:7-9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\nworship one God in the trinity of his sacred Persons. “For there\nare three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:\nand these three are one” <\/em>(1 John 5:7). Yet, we recognize, and the\nScriptures undeniably reveal, the fact that the revelation of the holy Trinity\nis found in Christ alone. Christ, and Christ alone, is the visible Jehovah. The\ninvisible God is seen and known only in him who is \u201cthe image of the\ninvisible God\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/strong>“No\nman hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of\nthe Father, he hath declared him”<\/em> (John 1:18). “For\nin him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”<\/em> (Col.\n2:9). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none\nother name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved<\/em>”\n(Acts 4:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\nis never written in Scripture that if a person believes in God, or if he\nbelieves in the Holy Spirit, he is saved. It is written throughout the Word of\nGod, \u201cBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved\u201d <\/em>(Acts\n16:31). The fact is – No one believes God and no one has the Spirit of God,\nexcept those sinners who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, as he is revealed in\nthe Scriptures, as the Savior of his people. As the all glorious Christ is\nalone the embodiment and revelation of God, he is also the only Savior of\nsinners. While we adore our heavenly Father and worship him as our God, and God\nthe Holy Spirit too, we realise that the only way for us to do so is by\ntrusting Christ alone as our Savior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n False religion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Horatius Bonar<\/a>,\n“False Religion and Its Doom”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel\nbefore their idols; and There is such a thing as false\nreligion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be earnest and zealous, yet false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No amount of sincerity or zeal will make False religion<\/strong> is\nthe worship of a false god<\/strong>, We worship the true God untruly<\/strong> when we Do not think that the utterance of some true False religion<\/strong> is\nuseless.<\/strong> It is irksome and unprofitable, only cheating God abhors<\/strong> false\nreligion<\/strong>. “I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel\nbefore their idols; and The voice from the cross did not summon men to do, but to be satisfied with what was done, \u201cIt is finished.\u201d The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect thing which has ever been presented to God on man\u2019s behalf. \u201cIt shall be perfect to be accepted, there shall be no […]<\/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-6535","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\/6535","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=6535"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6536,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6535\/revisions\/6536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n scatter your bones around your altars.” Ezek. 6:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthat true, which is in itself false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nor the false worship of the true God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ngive him only half a heart, half a soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nwords, or the expression of a little sentimental<\/strong>
\ndevotion,<\/strong> is the true worship of the true\nGod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIt profits nothing and nobody, either here or hereafter.
\nIt is not acceptable to God.
\nIt will not be counted a substitute for the true.
\nIt does not satisfy the conscience.
\nIt does not make the man happy.
\nIt does not fill the heart.
\nIt does not remove burdens.
\nIt will not stand the fire.
\nIt is but wood, and hay, and stubble.
\nThe judgment will sweep it all away.
\nIt is useless both for time nor eternity,
\n both for earth nor heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nthe poor worshiper into the belief that he has
\nfelt or performed something good and worthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIt has not one feature that is pleasing to Him.
\nIt is merely external.
\nIt is untrue.
\nIt is against His revelation.
\nIt is dishonouring to Him.
\nIt is self exalting.
\nIt is pure mockery.
\nIt is rottenness and death.
\nIt is a mouthful of words, a handful of dust and ashes.
\nTherefore God abhors it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n scatter your bones around your altars.” Ezek. 6:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Form or Power?<\/strong>
\n <\/strong>
\n Spurgeon, “The Form of Godliness Without the Power”<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n “Having a form of godliness but denying the power\n thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Tim 3:5
\n
\n A mere form of godliness joined to
\n an unholy heart is of no value to God.
\n
\n The swan, although its feathers are
\n as white as snow, yet its skin is black.
\n
\n God will not accept that ‘external morality’
\n which conceals ‘internal impurity’. There
\n must be a pure heart as well as a clean life.
\n
\n The power of godliness must work within,
\n or else God will not accept our offering.
\n
\n There is no value to man or to God in
\n a religion which is a dead form.
\n
\n Sad is that man’s plight who wears the
\n name of Christian but has never been
\n quickened by the Holy Spirit.
\n
\n There is no use in a mere formal religion.
\n If your religion is without spiritual life, what
\n is the use of it? Could you ride home on a
\n dead horse? Would you hunt with dead dogs?
\n
\n Is false religion any better?
\n
\n In the depth of winter, can you warm
\n yourself before a ‘painted fire’?
\n
\n Could you dine off the ‘picture of a
\n feast’ when you are hungry?
\n
\n There must be vitality and substantiality,
\n or else the form is utterly worthless; and
\n worse than worthless, for it may flatter
\n you into deadly self conceit.
\n
\n How shameful will such a fruitless, lifeless
\n professor be in eternity, when the secrets
\n of all hearts shall be revealed! What shame
\n and everlasting contempt will await him when
\n his falsehood shall be detected, and his
\n baseness shall fill all holy minds with horror!
\n
\n What will be the hell of the false professor!
\n
\n “Having a form of godliness but denying the power\n thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Tim 3:5\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Their religion is hollow,\n unsubstantial, and unreal<\/strong>
\n <\/em><\/strong>
\n <\/em>(From Winslow’s, “Christ’s Intercession for Tried\n Faith”)<\/em>
\n <\/em>
\n The most beautiful ritual,
\n the most accurate creed,
\n the most costly religion,
\n the most splendid profession,
\n without Christ in the heart,
\n is but as fuel preparing for the
\n final and eternal conflagration.
\n
\n What, my reader, if your religion
\n should prove to be nothing but chaff?
\n Does the bare probability startle you?
\n
\n Ah! there are multitudes whom it might well
\n startle; for multitudes are thus deceived.
\n
\n Not a grain of saving grace is found in their souls.
\n
\n There is….
\n no vitality in their faith,
\n no solidity in their profession,
\n no substance in their religion.
\n
\n Before every wind of false doctrine they bend, and
\n by each blast of temptation they are carried away.
\n
\n The stubble of the field, and the chaff of the
\n threshing floor (fit emblems of their profession),
\n are not more unsubstantial and fleeting than it.
\n
\n All is woeful deception!
\n
\n They have substituted….
\n a form of godliness for its power;
\n union to the church for union to Christ;
\n the baptism of water for the regeneration of the Spirit;
\n gospel ordinances for sanctifying grace;
\n works of benevolence for faith in the Lord Jesus.
\n
\n And thus their\n religion is hollow, unsubstantial, and<\/strong>
\n unreal<\/strong>; possessing a “name\n to live, they are dead.”
\n
\n And what will be the end of such?
\n
\n Departing into eternity in this state of soul deception;
\n building their hope of heaven upon this false foundation;
\n in their sad experience must be realized the awful
\n description which the evangelist gives of the judgment
\n power of Christ; “whose fan is in his hand, and he will
\n thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his
\n barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable\n fire.”
\n
\n Thus will perish….
\n all human religions,
\n all false hopes,
\n all hollow professions,
\n all soul destroying doctrines;
\n the ‘wood, the hay, the stubble,’ of a
\n form of godliness, destitute of the power.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Preserving grace before\n regeneration<\/strong>
\n
\n (J.C. Philpot<\/a>,\n “Daily Words for Zion’s Wayfarers”)
\n
\n “To them that are sanctifiedby God the\n Father, and preserved<\/strong> in Jesus Christ, and called.”\n Jude 1
\n
\n What a mercy it is for God’s people, that before they have a\n ‘vital union’ with Christ, before they are grafted into Him experimentally<\/em> \u2014\n they have an ‘eternal union’ with Him before all worlds. It is by virtue of\n this eternal union, that they come into the world . . .
\n at such a time<\/em>,
\n at such a place<\/em>,
\n from such parents<\/em>,
\n under such circumstances<\/em>
\n \u2014 just as God has appointed.
\n
\n It is by virtue of this eternal union, that all the\n circumstances of their lives are ordained. By virtue of this eternal\n union, they are preserved in Christ before they are effectually\n called.<\/em>
\n
\n They cannot die \u2014 until God has brought about a vital union\n with Christ!<\/em>
\n
\n Whatever sickness they may pass through, whatever injuries\n they may be exposed to, whatever perils assault them on sea or land \u2014 die\n they will not, die they cannot \u2014 until God’s purposes are executed in\n bringing them into a vital<\/em> union<\/em> with the Son of\n His love.
\n
\n Thus, this eternal union watched over every circumstance of\n their birth, watched over their childhood, watched over their manhood \u2014\n watched over them until the appointed time and spot, when “the God of\n all grace,” according to His eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken\n their souls, and thus bring about an experimental union<\/em> with\n the Lord of life and glory!\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"