{"id":6868,"date":"2025-07-14T00:43:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T00:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6868"},"modified":"2025-07-14T00:43:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T00:43:28","slug":"bulletin-edition-july-2025-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6868","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition July 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\nGLORY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a\nguilty, helpless, sinful man I find all that I need, all that I desire, and all\nthat a holy, righteous, Just, and true God requires of me in the cross. By his\nmarvellous death upon the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the demands of\nGod’s law and Justice for me. I find all my pardon in the cross. Christ bore my\nsins in his own body on the tree of Calvary. Dying in my place, he put my\nsin away. I find all my righteousness in the cross. By the obedience of the\nLord Jesus Christ unto death, as my Substitute, God has made me righteous in\nhim. I find all my sanctification in the cross. By his one offering, Christ has\nperfected forever them that are sanctified. I find all my hope in the cross.\nTrusting Christ alone for all my acceptance with God, I have hope of eternal\nlife, because he died for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\nFortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 More Mysterious than\nImputation  -C. H. Spurgeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll we like sheep have gone\nastray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him\nthe iniquity of us all\u201d (Isaiah 53: 6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having no personal sin, being\nincapable of any, but yet taking the sin of others upon himself \u2014 it has been\nthe custom of theologians to say \u2014 by imputation; but I question whether the\nuse of that word, although correct enough as it is understood by us, may not\nhave lent some color to the misrepresentations of those who oppose the doctrine\nof substitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will not say that the sins of\nGod\u2019s people were imputed to Christ, though I believe they were; but it seems\nto me that in a way more mysterious than that which imputation would express,\nthe sins of God\u2019s people were actually laid upon Jesus Christ; that in the view\nof God, not only was Christ treated as if he had been guilty, but the very sin\nitself was, I know not how, but according to the text it was somehow laid upon\nthe head of Christ Jesus. \u2014 \u201cFor he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no\nsin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.\u201d Is it not written,\n\u201cHe shall bear,\u201d not merely the punishment of their sin, nor the imputation of\ntheir sin, but \u201cHe shall bear their iniquities\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our sin is laid on Jesus in even\na deeper and truer sense than is expressed by the term imputation. I do not\nthink I can express it, nor convey the idea that I have in my own mind, but\nwhile Jesus never was and never could be a sinner \u2014 God forbid that the\nblasphemous thought should ever cross our lips or dwell upon our heart! \u2014 yet\nthe sin of his people was literally and truly laid upon him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noah\nwent into the ark BEFORE ONE DROP OF WATER FELL!  If he had waited until\nthe rain commenced, he would have been joined by thousands of false\nconverts.  True faith believes the promises of God and the warnings\nof God BEFORE they come to pass. A refuge built or entered during the storm is\nusually forsaken when the sun shines. Be wary of those who seek the Lord when\ntheir flesh is pained.   \n                            \n         Henry Mahan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter\ntells us in I Peter 3:4 of, \u201cA meek and quiet spirit, which is\nin the sight of God a great price.\u201d  How differently God views things than\nwe do.  Men look at a meek and quiet spirit as weak and worthless. \nGod views it \u201cof great price.\u201d  Meekness is a grace of the Spirit\n(Galatians 5:22).  It is that temper of spirit that submits to whatever\nGod does as good, therefore without disputing and resisting.  A quiet\nspirit is not somebody who has nothing to say (although quite often\nthat is a commendable trait).  It means \u201ctranquility from within.\u201d \nIt is based upon really believing God is in control.  Because of that\nbelief, you are not worried and upset.  A meek and quiet spirit is\nwillingly submissive to the will of God in all things.  Men look upon that\nas weakness.  God views it as, \u201cOf great price.\u201d  \n                                               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todd\nNibert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And the fruit of\nthe earth shall be excellent and comely for those that are escaped of\nIsrael.”<\/em><\/strong> Isaiah 4:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By “the fruit of the\nearth” we may understand that gracious and holy fruit which grew upon the\nBranch–and it seems to be called “the fruit of the earth,” because\nit appeared on earth when our Lord was there. Thus not only all his words,\nworks, and ways, all the parables, doctrines, precepts, and promises uttered by\nthe mouth of the Son of God in the days of his flesh, but all the benefits and\nblessings that spring in the way of redemption out of his complex Person, and\ngrow as it were a holy fruit out of him as the Branch, such as his atoning\nblood, his glorious righteousness, his dying love, his resurrection and\nascension, and his power to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by\nhim, may all be considered as “the fruit of the earth,” because\nwrought by him in and upon the earth, and done in the days of his flesh when\nhis gracious feet were upon this earthly ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fruit is\n“excellent” to the escaped of Israel. There is seen in it to be a\ndivine excellency. Therefore, there is not a shadow of a fault to be found with\nit. It is perfect in all its parts; complete to the very centre, and therefore\nseen to be excellent, as so glorifying to God, and so adapted to every need and\nwoe of those that are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And “lovely” too. In\nhis sufferings, in his blood shedding, obedience, holy life and expiatory\ndeath, there is a surpassing loveliness, because in them shine forth a divine\nglory and a heavenly beauty. It is indeed the same word as is translated\n“beauty” in the holy garments made for Aaron by Moses (Exod. 28:2),\nand clothed in which he ministered before the Lord when he went into the holy\nplace. So our great High Priest now ministers within the veil in the holiness\nand beauty of his glorified humanity; and as this is seen and apprehended by\nfaith, the Church sings, “I sat under his shadow with great delight, and\nhis fruit was sweet to my taste.” “His glory is great in your\nsalvation–honour and majesty have you laid upon him.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which were born, not\nof blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.\nJohn 1:13.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Octavius Winslow
\n
\nTHE real believer in Jesus is a gracious man. He is a\n“living soul.” He is the partaker of a new and a divine nature, and\nis the depository of a heavenly and a precious treasure. But grace is a thing\nforeign to the natural state of a man. His possession of it is not at the same\ntime as his natural birth, nor can it be his by right of hereditary law. No\nparent, however holy, can transmit a particle of that holiness to his\nposterity. But see how this mystery is cleared up in the conversation which\nJesus held with the Samaritan woman, as He sat wearied upon the mouth of\nJacob’s well: “Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of\nGod, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink, you would have asked of\nhim, and he would have given you living water.” This is the grace of which\nwe speak, and this is the source from where it flows into the hearts of all the\ntruly regenerate. It is in you, Christian reader, a “well of water,”\na springing well, mounting upward, and ascending to the source from where it\nrises. Blessed words\u2014”springing up into everlasting life”! As the\nfirst blush of morning is a part of the day, so the least dawn of grace in the\nsoul is a portion of heaven.
\n
\nWhat an exalted character, and what an enviable man, is the true\nChristian! All the resources of the Triune God unite to replenish this earthen\nvessel. No angel in heaven contains a treasure half so costly and so precious\nas that poor believing sinner, who getting near to the Saviour’s feet, and\nbathing them with tears of penitence and love can look up and exclaim,\n“Whom have I in heaven but You? and there is none upon earth that I desire\nbeside You.” But what deep humility ought to distinguish the true\nChristian, as a real professor of the grace of Christ Jesus! The grace which\nyou possess is a communicated grace. All that is really holy and gracious in us\nsprings not from our fallen nature, but, like “every good and perfect\ngift, comes down from the Father of lights.” It is the spontaneous outflowing\nof the heart of God\u2014the free unmerited bestowment of his sovereign mercy. Then\nwhat meekness of heart, what profound humility of mind, ought to mark you! What\na prostration of every form of self, self-confidence, self-seeking,\nself-boasting\u2014should there be, as reasonably becomes those who have nothing but\nwhat they have received, and whom free and sovereign grace alone has\ndistinguished from others!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“<\/strong>But\nnow is Christ risen from the dead, and<\/em> become the firstfruits\nof them that slept. For since by man came<\/em> death, by\nman came<\/em> also the resurrection of the dead.<\/strong> <\/sup><\/strong>For as in Adam all die, even\nso in Christ shall all be made alive.<\/strong>”\n\u20131 Corinthians 15:20-22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ risen is the\nfirstfruits of that mighty crop of buried dead whose remains still sleep in the\nsilent dust, and who will be joined by successive ranks of those who die in\nhim, until all are together wakened up in the resurrection morn. The figure is\nthat of the sheaf of the firstfruits which was waved before the Lord before the\nharvest was allowed to be reaped (Lev. 23:10, 11). This offering of the wave\nsheaf was the consecration and dedication of the whole crop in the field to the\nLord, as well as the manifest pledge that the harvest was fully ripe for the\nreaper’s sickle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The firstfruits represented\nthe whole of the crop, as Christ is the representative of his saints; the\noffering of them sanctified what was still unreaped in the field, as Christ\nsanctified or consecrated unto God the yet unreaped harvest of the buried dead;\nand the carrying them into the tabernacle was the first introduction therein of\nthe crop, as Christ entering heaven as the firstfruits secures thereby the\nentrance of the bodies of the saints into the mansions prepared for them before\nthe foundation of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus Christ rising from the\ndead presented himself before the Lord as the firstfruits of the grand harvest\nof the resurrection yet unreaped, and by doing so consecrated and dedicated the\nwhole crop unto God. As, then, he rose from the dead, so shall all the sleeping\nsaints rise from the dead at the last day, for his resurrection is the\nfitst-fruits, the pledge, and the earnest of theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\nCHRIST IS OUR LIFE<\/strong>
\n(Charles Spurgeon)
\n
\n“Christ, who is our life.”   Col.3:4
\n
\nPaul’s marvellously rich expression indicates
\nthat Christ is the source of our life.
\n“You has He quickened who were dead in
\ntrespasses and sins.” That same voice which
\nbrought Lazarus out of the tomb raised us
\nto newness of life.
\n
\nChrist is now the substance of our spiritual life.
\nIt is by His life that we live; He is in us, the
\nhope  glory, the spring of our actions, the central
\nthought which moves every other thought.
\n
\nChrist is the sustenance of our life.
\nWhat can the Christian feed upon but Jesus?
\nO wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin,
\nyou never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger
\nof your spirits, except you find it in Him!
\n
\nChrist is the solace of our life.
\nAll our true joys come from Him; and in times
\nof trouble, His presence is our consolation.
\nThere is nothing worth living for but Him;
\nand His lovingkindness is better than life!
\n
\nChrist is the object of our life.
\nAs speeds the ship towards the port, so hastes
\nthe believer towards the haven of his Saviour’s
\nbosom. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies
\nthe Christian towards perfecting of his fellowship
\nwith Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his
\ncaptain, and is crowned in his captain’s victory,
\nso the believer contends for Christ, and gets
\nhis triumph out of the triumphs of his Master.
\nFor him to live is Christ.
\n
\nChrist is the exemplar of our life.
\nWhere there is the same life within, there will,
\nthere must be, to a great extent, the same
\ndevelopments without; and if we live in near
\nfellowship with the Lord Jesus we shall grow
\nlike Him. We shall set Him before us as our
\nDivine copy, and we shall seek to tread in His
\nfootsteps, until He shall become the crown of
\nour life in glory.
\n
\nOh! how safe, how honoured, how happy
\nis the Christian, since Christ is our life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\nmagic name!<\/strong>
\nThe following is from Bonar’s book,
\n    “The Night of Weeping”
\n
\nGod has many names for His people.
\n
\nHe calls them His flock, which implies
\ntender watchfulness on His part, and
\ndependent helplessness on theirs.
\n
\nHe calls them a vine, denoting their
\noneness, as well as the unceasing
\nnourishment that is ever circulating
\nthrough them from the parent stem.
\n
\nHe calls them a temple, signifying their
\ncompactness of structure, symmetry of
\ndesign, beauty of form, and above all,
\nfitness for the inhabitation and worship
\nof Jehovah.
\n
\nHe calls them a body, to set forth, not
\nmerely their lovely proportions, but their
\nmarvellous unity and conscious vitality
\nof being, as well as the closeness of
\nthe binding tie, and their various
\nserviceableness to each other.
\n
\nHe calls them a city, intimating their
\nhappy community of privileges and rights
\nand well ordered government; the security,
\npeace, abundance which they enjoy, the
\ncomforts of neighbourhood with all its
\ncheerful greetings and mutual offices of love.
\n
\nHe calls them a kingdom, as expressive
\nof their high and honourable estate, of the
\nroyalty, the glory, the dominion, of which
\nthey have been made the heirs.
\n
\nBut it is that well known word, that magic
\nname, family, which alone can express all
\nthat God sees of what is lovely and tender,
\nloving and loveable in the Church of Christ
\ninto which He is pouring His love through
\nwhich He delights to see that love circulate
\nunhindered, and out of which he expects
\nthat love to flow abroad.
\n
\nThe family of God- as such He dwells in the
\nmidst of it, cares for it, and watches over it.
\n
\nHis dealings with it are those of a father;
\nfond yet strict; loving yet wise; sitting
\namong His children, having His eye on
\neach, and ordering in His gracious wisdom
\nall the concerns of His household.
\n
\nHis heart is there!   Yes, it is in His family
\nthat God’s heart may be said specially to be.
\n
\nThere it unfolds itself in a way such as it can
\ndo amid no other order of His creatures. There
\nit shows itself in all its manifold fullness such
\nas it has no scope for elsewhere. It is in the
\nfamily alone that the one thing we call affection
\nor love is divided and spread out, like a sunbeam
\ninto the rainbow’s sevenfold hues, there to
\ndisplay itself in all the rich tints of hidden beauty.
\n
\nSo it is in His family alone that the love of
\nGod is fully seen, not merely in all its intensity,
\nbut in all its varied riches. All kinds of love are
\nunfolded there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I GLORY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST As a guilty, helpless, sinful man I find all that I need, all that I desire, and all that a holy, righteous, Just, and true God requires of me in the cross. By his marvellous death upon the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the demands of God’s […]<\/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-6868","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\/6868","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=6868"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6869,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6868\/revisions\/6869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}