<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some words that describe things\nthat cannot be unsuccessful. For example, one can have an unsuccessful\nmedicine, but one cannot have an unsuccessful cure, for a thing can be called a\ncure unless and until is successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The words used to describe our Lord and His saving work are such\nwords. For example, He is called a saviour. The very word \u201csaviour\u201d\nimplies success in the work of saving. A person could attempt to save or\nrescue someone in trouble, but he cannot be called a saviour unless he is\nsuccessful in the attempt. So it is with our Lord \u2013 He is called a\nsaviour precisely because He actually did save all those He came to save. \u201cYou\nshall call His name Jesus, for He SHALL SAVE His people from their sins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christ\u2019s work is called atonement. An atonement is a\nsacrifice that puts away the wrath of God. There could be an unsuccessful\nsacrifice: it might be that the thing offered was not suitable; it might be\nthat it was not offered correctly. But, while it can be called a\nsacrifice, it cannot be called an atonement unless and until it actually puts\naway the wrath of God. Our Lord\u2019s sacrifice is called an atonement\nprecisely because it actually did put away the wrath of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His work is called redemption. Redemption is the price\npaid to set a debtor free from his debt. One could make an unsuccessful\npayment: maybe it was not enough or in the wrong currency, therefore. the\npayment was rejected. But, there cannot be an unsuccessful redemption,\nfor a payment cannot be called a redemption unless and until it is successful \u2013\nunless and until the one to whom the payment was made has accepted the payment\nand released his claim on the object or person redeemed. Christ\u2019s payment\nis called redemption precisely because He paid the full price of our redemption\n(death) in the proper currency (blood) and God has accepted His payment and\nreleased His claim of justice against the redeemed ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result of all this is that all for whom Christ came as a\nsaviour are, indeed, saved, all for whom He made atonement have no threat of\nwrath against them, and all for whom Christ paid the redemption price owe\nnothing more to God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe Terrell <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am not in the least doubt, whether salvation be of faith\nor of works; whether faith be of our own power or of God\u2019s operation; whether\nChrist\u2019s obedience, or our own, be the just ground of our hope; whether a man\ncan truly call Jesus Lord, but by the teaching of the Holy Ghost. I have\nno more hesitation about these points, than I should have were I asked whether\nit was God or man who created the heavens and the earth. \n \n \u2013John Newton<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There Is A Prescribed Means Of Worship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cain came to God with a bloodless sacrifice, the fruit of his\nown effort, and God rejected him. Abel came to God with the blood of an\ninnocent lamb, a type of Christ, the Lamb of God, and God accepted him. Blessed\nbe God, it is possible for fallen, sinful man to approach God and find\nacceptance with him! But the only ground upon which anyone can come to God and\nfind grace in his sight is by the blood of Christ. We are sinners. His blood is\npropitiation! We are guilty. His blood is pardon! We are defiled. His blood is\ncleansing! We are naked. His blood is righteousness! We are separated from God.\nHis blood is reconciliation! If you would be accepted of God, your only means\nof access to him is the precious blood of Christ. \n \n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
~Don Fortner (<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a lobster loses its claw in a fight<\/strong>
\n
\n(Charles Spurgeon<\/a>)
\n
\n“I will give you a new heart<\/em>, and put a new spirit<\/em> in\nyou.
\n I will remove your heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh!”\nEzekiel 36:26
\n
\nWhat a wonder it is, that a man could ever have a new heart!
\n
\nYou know that if a lobster loses its claw in a fight<\/strong>, it may grow a\nnew claw\u2014and that is thought to be quite marvellous.
\n
\nIt would be far more astonishing, if men could be able to grow new arms and new\nlegs.
\n
\nBut who ever heard of a man who grew a new heart?<\/em>
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\nYou may have seen a bough lopped off a tree, and you may have thought that\nperhaps the tree will sprout again and there will be a new limb. But who ever\nheard of a wooden fence post getting new sap and a new life?
\n
\nYet my Lord and Master, the crucified and exalted Savior\u2014has given His people\nnew hearts, and has and made new creations of them!
\n
\n“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ\u2014he is a new creation; the old has gone,\nthe new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
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\nLet us rejoice together in this regenerating Savior!<\/p>\n\n\n\n