Most religious people, when they come to hear\nfree grace preached say, \u201cWhy could anyone come to hear this fellow? He has no\nvariety in his message.\u201d What sort of variety does a hungry man want? He wants\nsome good food that he has tasted before and liked. What sort of variety does a\nthirsty man want? He wants the same spring water from which he has already\ndrunk. What variety does a poor, tired man want? He wants his bed to rest upon.\nWhat sort of variety does a man want that is bowed down with a heavy burden on\nhis back and is weak and ready to fall? He wants his burden removed. Christ is\nall I want, and all I need. \n \n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
~Scott Richardson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is Christ That Died, Yea Rather, That Is Risen Again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 8:34<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our hearts rejoice and give thanks for the marvelous incarnation\nof Christ. When God assumes our nature, we have hope. God in human flesh\nassures me that God intends to be gracious to the fallen sons of Adam. Taking\nour nature into union with himself, the Son of God worked out a perfect\nrighteousness for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that is not enough. Our sin must be punished. A ransom must be\npaid. Therefore, our merciful Savior laid down his life in our place. Only he\nwho is both God and man can be a suitable substitute for sinners. Man had\nsinned; and man must die. But a mere man could never satisfy infinite justice\nfor us. Our Redeemer must be more than a man. He must be God. As a man, in our\nnature, Christ could die. As God, he could make infinite satisfaction to the\ninfinite wrath and justice of God. The God-man drained the cup of divine wrath\nfor us, making atonement for our sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But still his work is not done. He must rise from the dead. A\nburied Christ gives me no comfort. But when I know that One who bore my sins\nupon the tree has broken the walls of the grave, then I know that my sins are\ngone! The risen Christ has power to save! The risen Christ gives me such\nconfidence that I can raise this bold challenge, \u201cWho is he that condemneth?\u201d\nNobody can because Christ both died and rose again. Do you know this risen\nChrist?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n Pastor Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAs the sun is seen in its own light, so is Christ; we can never behold Him\nbelievingly and comfortably, but in the light of His Own Spirit. \u201cFor\nwith Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light we shall see light\u201d<\/em> (Psalm\n36:98). \n \n \n \n Augustus\nToplady<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>See to it that your religious\nknowledge is not borrowed from a church, or from a minister, or from\na creed–but is derived directly and only from Christ. Let your knowledge<\/em> of\nChrist, your faith<\/em> in Christ, your love<\/em> to\nChrist, your obedience<\/em> to Christ, be the test and\nthe measure of the light that is in you. Is there not a great danger\nof borrowing our religious thoughts, sentiments, and phraseology, from\nothers? And was not this the case with\nthe foolish virgins<\/em> in the parable, when they exclaimed,\n“Pleasegive us some of your oil, because our lamps\nare going out!” (Matthew 25:8). Oh, it is of the utmost importance\nthat our religious light is not a borrowed or false light. See\nthat your religion is your own–the personal, vital experience of your own\nheart. Nothing is easier<\/em>, or more deceptive<\/em> or fatal<\/em>–than\nto make a religious profession, adopt a religious\nritual, imitate the experience, and quote the language of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A borrowed or a counterfeit\nreligion is of all religions, the most ensnaring and dangerous! Do\nnot go to the grave clad in the religious apparel of others, but robed in\nChrist’s true and joyous garments of salvation, girded with the golden belt of\ntruth, holiness, and love. Do not carry the empty,\noilless, flameless lamp<\/strong> of a mere religious profession, to\ndeath’s gate! \n Octavius Winslow<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Why should we ever doubt our Great and Loving Lord? I confess\nthat <\/p>\n\n\n\n I cannot tell how God will work out all things together for my\ngood. I<\/p>\n\n\n\n am not called to explain the providence of God but just to believe\nGod<\/p>\n\n\n\n no matter the providence. (Proverbs 3:5-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fred Evans<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe dearest idol I have known<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whate\u2019er that idol be,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Help me to tear it from thy throne,<\/p>\n\n\n\n And worship only thee.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n William Mason<\/p>\n\n\n\n Religion claims that salvation is according to man\u2019s will, man\u2019s\nwork, <\/p>\n\n\n\n man\u2019s worth, and man\u2019s way. But the Word of God claims that <\/p>\n\n\n\n salvation is \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 According\nto the good pleasure of God\u2019s will. (Ephesians 1:5) <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 According\nto the riches of God\u2019s grace. (Ephesians 1:7) <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 According\nto God\u2019s good pleasure. (Ephesians 1:9) <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 According\nto God\u2019s eternal purpose. (Ephesians 1:11) \u00b7 According\nto the riches of God\u2019s glory. (Ephesians 1:19)<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Edmenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from Christ, TULIP is but a dead flower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Edmenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n So great is the depravity of unregenerate man that, although there\nis <\/p>\n\n\n\n nothing that he needs more than the Gospel, there is nothing that\nhe <\/p>\n\n\n\n desires less..<\/p>\n\n\n\n Amen!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elect or election<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was challenged again recently by the claim that we and our\nbrethren are too dogmatic in our declaration of the sovereign predestinated\nsalvation of the elect alone by the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response (our time was limited) I asked my friend to do a\nsimple exercise. Look up the word elect or election and examine the adjectives\nthe Holy Spirit attaches to this word in the scriptures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My question being \u201cwould I wish to meet God having thought the\nproclamation of this truth from our Lord as being something about which it is\nnot helpful to be too dogmatic because it offends some people?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t want to ask someone to do something which I hadn\u2019t done\nso here they are. The 23 references to the words elect or election in the\nBible. (The addition of synonyms such as chosen, and pronouns such as Mine\nwould expand this list significantly to many thousands.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is God the Father\u2019s title of His Son<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is. 42:1 Behold\nmy servant, whom I uphold; mine elect<\/strong>, in whom my soul delighteth; I\nhave put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is God\u2019s title of His children (mine, My beloved, His own) and\na declaration of the union between the Elect Saviour and His bride elected in\nHim.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is. 45:4 For\nJacob my servant\u2019s sake, and Israel mine<\/strong> elect<\/strong>,\nI have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not\nknown me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is. 65:9 And I\nwill bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my\nmountains: and mine<\/strong> elect<\/strong> shall\ninherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is. 65:22 They\nshall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat:\nfor as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine<\/strong>\nelect<\/strong> shall long enjoy the work of their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luke 18:7 And\nshall not God avenge his own<\/strong> elect<\/strong>,\nwhich cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Election is the declaration of the Lord\u2019s love for His chosen <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ephesians 1:4ff<\/p>\n\n\n\n The elect are protected from the deception<\/strong> which\ncaptivates all others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt. 24:24 For\nthere shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs\nand wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very\nelect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark 13:22 For\nfalse Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders,\nto seduce, if it were possible, even the elect<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are gathered by the angels on that last day of this creation\n\u2013 because they are His.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matt. 24:31 And he\nshall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather\ntogether his<\/strong> elect<\/strong> from the four\nwinds, from one end of heaven to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark 13:27 And then\nshall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect<\/strong> from the\nfour winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of\nheaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God will accept no charge against His elect \u2013 He justifies them\nfreely by His grace Romans 3:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom. 8:33 Who\nshall lay any thing to the charge of God\u2019s elect<\/strong>? It is God that\njustifieth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The salvation of the elect reveals the purpose of God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom. 9:11 (For the\nchildren being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose\nof God according to election<\/strong> might stand, not of works, but of him that\ncalleth;)<\/p>\n\n\n\n No election no grace, no grace no salvation. Eph 2:9 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom. 11:5 Even so\nthen at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election<\/strong>\nof grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The elect obtain that for which they seek<\/strong> and\nthe rest are blinded.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom. 11:7 What\nthen? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election<\/strong>\nhath obtained it, and the rest were blinded<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elect are owned by God as His and<\/strong> dressed\nappropriately<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Col. 3:12 Put on\ntherefore, as the elect<\/strong> of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,\nkindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the elect know they are loved, those loved by the Lord know\nthey are elect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1Th. 1:4 Knowing,\nbrethren beloved, your election<\/strong> of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rom. 11:28 As\nconcerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election<\/strong>,\nthey are beloved for the fathers\u2019 sakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even angels are only kept by being elect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1Tim. 5:21 I charge\nthee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect<\/strong> angels, that\nthou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing\nby partiality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saving faith, which is from God, is given to the elect<\/p>\n\n\n\n Titus 1:1 Paul, a\nservant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God\u2019s\nelect<\/strong>, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eternal love (foreknowledge) is for the elect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sanctification is for the elect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sprinkled (applied) blood is for the elect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1Pet. 1:2 Elect<\/strong>\naccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the\nSpirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto\nyou, and peace, be multiplied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord Jesus Christ, the elect of God, is the foundation of Zion<\/strong> \u2013 the\nchurch He purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1Pet. 2:6 Wherefore\nalso it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner\nstone, elect<\/strong>, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be\nconfounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making your election sure, is to not fall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2Pet. 1:10 Wherefore\nthe rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election<\/strong> sure:\nfor if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The churches are called the elect<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2John 1 The\nelder unto the elect<\/strong> lady and her children, whom I love in the truth;\nand not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2John 13 The\nchildren of thy elect<\/strong> sister greet thee. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What delightful descriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ and His\nbride and what assurances are attached to their union with Him in this world\nand to eternity. The words of God are written for the rejoicing and comfort of\nHis children who call on the Name (attributes) of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n May He be\npleased to reveal Himself to us, and draw us to Himself as He is described in\nHis holy word of promise that we may long for the day of His appearing when all\nthe elect shall be like Him because they shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most religious people, when they come to hear free grace preached say, \u201cWhy could anyone come to hear this fellow? He has no variety in his message.\u201d What sort of variety does a hungry man want? He wants some good food that he has tasted before and liked. What sort of variety does a thirsty […]<\/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-6720","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\/6720","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=6720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6721,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6720\/revisions\/6721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}