John 14:16-28 “The Comforter’s Love”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John 14:16 And I will pray the\nFather, and he shall give you another Comforter<\/strong>, that he may abide with\nyou for ever;<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 14:26 But the Comforter<\/strong>, which\nis<\/em> the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall\nteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I\nhave said unto you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 14:17 Even<\/em> the Spirit<\/strong> of\ntruth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth\nhim: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 15:26 \u00b6 But when the Comforter\nis come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even<\/em> the Spirit<\/strong>\nof truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit<\/strong>\nof truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of\nhimself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that<\/em> shall he speak: and he will\nshew you things to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood Before the Lord<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note in\nscripture how many times the blood is said to be “before the Lord<\/em>.”\nWhether any man saw it or not was of small account, for it was offered for sin\n“before the Lord<\/em>.” When the Passover lamb was slain in Egypt,\nwhere was the blood placed? It was on the OUTSIDE of the door “before\nthe Lord<\/em>.” He said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over\nyou.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nsuffering and death of Christ on behalf of His people was “BEFORE the\nLord<\/em>,” UNTO the Lord, to declare the Lord’s righteousness, to satisfy\nthe Lord’s justice, to fulfil the Lord’s purpose, to glorify the Lord’s\ncharacter, to enable the Lord to be both just and justifier!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\natonement does not change the NATURE and character of God, but rather the\natonement HONOURS and MAGNIFIES the character of God. The death of Christ is\nNOT the cause of God’s love, but the result of it. God is not merciful because\nChrist died; Christ died because God is merciful. In order that every attribute\nmight be expressed, glorified, and honored, God gave His Son to be the Saviour\nof the chosen people! Thank God we have an atonement, “before the Lord<\/em>.” <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Henry T. Mahan<\/p>\n\n\n\n DO YOU TRUST DOCTRINE OR\nJESUS CHRIST?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Total Depravity.<\/strong> Knowing that you are a\nsinner, wretched, depraved and spiritually dead will profit you nothing if you\ndo not come to Christ for perfect righteousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unconditional Election<\/strong>. Believing that God in sovereign\nmercy, elected a chosen people before the foundation of the world, will profit\nyou nothing if you do not see that God elected (chose) certain sinners in His\nbeloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Those that come to HIM as their only hope\nof redemption are the Elect of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Limited Atonement<\/strong>. To believe that Christ died for\ncertain, particular sinners will not profit you a thing if you do not trust in\nHim alone. God\u2019s atonement is limited to those who believe and trust in His\nSon. If atonement is universal, then all men and women will trust and believe\non Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Irresistible Grace<\/strong>. To understand that God\u2019s grace\nis effectual and accomplished only by His sovereign grace will profit you\nnothing if you do not come to Christ the Redeemer with nothing in your hand to\nbring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perseverance (Preservation) of the Saints<\/strong>. You can\nbelieve the precious doctrine of eternal security. However, if you do not cling\nto, lean on, and trust in God\u2019s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, enduring to\nthe end, you will die in your sin, believing only in a doctrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salvation is in a person and that person is Jesus Christ. The\nbeliever knows these five things to be true doctrine, but they know that\nsalvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in CHRIST\nALONE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ~David\nEddmenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beloved, our gospel is not about believing in something, it is\nabout believing and trusting someone: the Lord Jesus Christ. \u201cI know whom I\nhave believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have\ncommitted unto him against that day\u201d (2 Timothy 1:12). The chief sinner doesn\u2019t\nspeak of when he believed, or where he believed, or what he believed, but\nrather ever so blessedly of Whom he believed. ~Copied<\/p>\n\n\n\n God has surely promised His grace to the humbled: that is, to\nthose who mourn over and despair of themselves. But a man cannot be thoroughly\nhumbled till he realises that his salvation is utterly beyond his own powers,\ncounsels, efforts, will and works, and depends absolutely on the will, counsel,\npleasure and work of Another — God alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Martin Luther <\/p>\n\n\n\n SALVATION IS OF THE LORD <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jonah 2:9 (KJV) <\/p>\n\n\n\n “You don’t have to teach a drowning man what to say. We\npreach THE GOSPEL and the Holy Ghost will be left to work in men’s hearts.\nThere’s no pressure, no persuasion, and no psychology to get professions or\njoiners or decisions. The preacher will be preach the Gospel, he will preach\nthe Word of God and will leave people alone. They will leave them in the hands\nof the Holy Spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Henry Mahan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Christ <\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does Paul say that he wanted to found in Christ? It is\nbecause Christ is everything God the Father requires, everything God freely\ngives his people, is IN CHRIST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colossians 1: 19: For it pleased the Father that IN HIM should\nall fulness dwell<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 1: 3: [God the Father] “blessed his people with\nall spiritual blessings IN CHRIST, according as he chose us IN HIM”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 5:21: He hath made him sin who knew no sin that we\nmight be made the righteousness of God IN HIM<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 John 3: 15…he was manifested to take away our sins; and IN\nHIM is no sin<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 1: 2…the church of God is sanctified IN CHRIST\nJESUS…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Galatians 3:26…[we are] children of God by faith IN CHRIST\nJESUS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8: 1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them\nwhich are IN CHRIST JESUS..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 2: 6: he raised us up together, and made us sit\ntogether in heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Philippians 2: 1 our consolation and comfort of love is IN\nCHRIST<\/p>\n\n\n\n Philippians 3:3 we are the circumcision which worship God in the\nspirit, rejoice IN CHRIST JESUS, and have no confidence in the flesh\u202614…the\nprize of the high calling of God is IN CHRIST JESUS<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 1: 10 in the fulness of time God shall gather together\nin one all things IN CHRIST…<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why Paul said that he wanted to “be found IN HIM,\nnot having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is\nthrough the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrary to all outward evidence, the thief on the cross\nbelieved that the Man dying beside him was his only hope for salvation. There\nwas nothing in his physical sight to convince him that Jesus was Lord, or that\nHe would be reigning over an eternal kingdom. Yet he prayed; \u201cLord, remember me\nwhen thou comest into thy kingdom\u201d. So, what did he have to cause such hope?\nThe same thing you and I have. He had the word of God and he had the Spirit of\nGod. That is all he had, and all he needed. That is all we have, and all we\nneed. If we look for anything else, (feelings, experiences, change in life,\netc.) we will be walking by sight rather than by faith. Saving faith comes by\nhearing, not by seeing. When the Spirit of God takes the Word of God and gives\nfaith to the children of God in the Son of God\u2026 they hear those blessed words\nof hope; \u201cthou shalt be with me in Paradise\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Elmquist<\/p>\n\n\n\n Human guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Octavius Winslow<\/a>,\n“The Fragrance of Christ’s Name” Wrought with divine power<\/strong> A hundred doctrines floating in\nthe head
\n
\nWe have need to be on our watch against the powerful influence\nof spiritual mentors\u2014lest, fascinated by the\nfame of some popular leader, we become the willing dupes of a childish\nsuperstition, or the blind followers of a fatal error.
\n
\nDo not take your views of Divine truth from man; draw them\nprimarily from God’s Word. Do not study the Bible through your theological\nsystem\u2014but let your system be taken from, and faithfully weighed with, the\nBible. Our theological system must not be allowed to give its complexion to, or\nto be the interpreter of, revealed truth. But on the contrary, God’s Word is to suggest and mold and tint all our thoughts<\/em> and opinions<\/em> and systems<\/em>.
\n
\nWe must not set the sun by our<\/em> watch; but our\nwatch by the sun. In other words, we must not attempt\nto make God’s Word dovetail with our creed, but must test . . .
\n every doctrine<\/em> we hold,
\n every opinion<\/em> we receive,
\n every principle<\/em> we maintain,
\n the hope<\/em> we cherish\u2014
\nby the unerring standard of revealed truth!
\nThis will give a Divine and proper complexion to our views.
\n
\nIf we receive the light of the sun<\/em> through a\ntinted lens\u2014the light will necessarily reflect the hue of the medium through\nwhich it passes. So, if we receive the light of God’s Word <\/em>through\nany theological system whatever\u2014it will necessarily reflect the error and\nimperfection, if such there be, of that system. And thus we shall fail to\nreceive the teaching of God as it flows pure and simple from His Word\u2014as light\nflows from the sun, and as streams from the fountain.
\n
\nThe Bible is our rule of faith, and our only and ultimate\nappeal. By the law and the testimony let every doctrine<\/em>, and system<\/em>,\nand hope<\/em> for eternity be tried!
\n
\nDo not be, then, carried away by the learning, the influence, or\neven the piety attaching to a popular name. Allow no\nhuman leader the mastery of your mind and conscience.
\n
\nYield yourself meekly and obediently to the authority and\nteaching of Christ\u2014accepting human guidance only so far as it comes with a\n“thus says the Lord” as its divine endorsement.
\n
\nOur only safeguard in a matter of such infinite moment as our\nfuture well being, is God’s pure Word; our only secure place, the feet of the\nSavior. Sitting there as His lowly disciple, the Holy Spirit will lead our\nminds into the truth, even “the truth as it is in Jesus” . . .
\n as it emanates from Jesus,
\n as it speaks of Jesus,
\n as it strengthens our faith in, and inspires our love to,\nJesus;
\n and as it prepares us to go and be with Jesus forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n(J. C. Philpot, “The Veil Taken Away<\/a>”\n1844)
\n
\n“For our gospel came not unto you in word only,
\n but also in power<\/strong>, and in the Holy\nGhost<\/strong> and
\n in much assurance.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5
\n
\nMost men’s religion is nothing else but<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>‘a round of forms’ . . .<\/strong>
\n some have their ‘doings’,
\n some have their ‘doctrines’,
\n and others have their ‘duties’.
\n
\nAnd when the one has performed his doings<\/strong>,
\nthe other learned his doctrines<\/strong>, and the third
\ndischarged his duties<\/strong>\u2014why, he is as good a
\nChristian, he thinks, as anybody. While all the
\ntime, the poor deceived creature is thoroughly
\nignorant of the kingdom of God, which stands
\nnot in simply in word\u2014but in power.
\n
\nBut as the veil of ignorance is taken off the heart,
\nwe begin to see and feel that there is a power in
\nvital godliness\u2014a reality in the teachings of the
\nSpirit\u2014that religion is not to be put on and put
\noff as a man puts on and off his Sunday clothes.
\n
\nWhere vital godliness is wrought\nwith divine power<\/strong> <\/strong>in a\nman’s heart, and preached by the Holy Spirit into his\nconscience\u2014it mingles, daily and often hourly, with his\nthoughts\u2014entwines itself with his feelings\u2014and becomes the very food and drink\nof his soul.
\n
\nNow when a man comes to this spot\u2014to see and feel
\nwhat a reality there is in the things of God made
\nmanifest in the conscience by the power of the Holy
\nSpirit\u2014it effectually takes him out of dead churches,
\ncuts him off from false ministers, winnows the chaff
\nfrom the wheat, and brings him into close communion with the broken-hearted family of God.
\n
\n“For our gospel came not unto you in word only,
\n but also in power<\/strong>, and in the Holy\nGhost<\/strong> and
\n in much assurance.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n(J. C. Philpot<\/strong><\/a>)
\n
\nBy five minutes real communion<\/strong> with the Lord . . .
\n we learn more,
\n we know more,
\n we receive more,
\n we feel more, and
\n we experience more
\nthan by a thousand years of merely studying
\nthe Scriptures, or using external forms, rites,
\nand ceremonies.
\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n