Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Not relying on my own purity
We differ also from those who place reliance upon moral virtues and spiritual excellencies, and even from those who would have us found our hope upon certain graces supposed to be the works of the Holy Spirit. Had we been the most courageously honest, had we been the most chastely pure, had we never offended against the law of man in any respect whatever, if we could say with the apostle “as touching the law blameless,” and if, like the young man in the gospel narrative, re could say of the commandments, “All these things have I kept from my youth up,” yet would we count our virtues and obediences to be but dross that we might win Christ and be found in him, not having our own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.We dare not hope to be acceptable with God because of anything good that is in us by nature, or may be infused into us by grace: we are accepted in the Beloved, and apart from him we look not to be found acceptable. Even what the Holy Ghost works with us does not furnish us with any merit which we can plead, for it is a gift of grace, and no part of our justifying righteousness. We rest upon Jesus Christ crucified, and not upon our faith, our repentance, our prayers, our conquests of sin, our likeness to Christ. Right away from anything that comes from us or to us we look to Jesus, who is all our salvation, the Alpha and Omega, the author and the finisher of faith.
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Salvation By Faith And The Work Of The Spirit," delivered April 11, 1876.
HT: www.thedailyspurgeon.com
Saturday, January 21, 2012
A Personal Salvation
Salvation through faith in Christ and His finished work of redemption on the cross of Calvary is truly a miraculous event. Many can remember the time and place and circumstances surrounding their conversion, and may have remarkable stories to tell of how the Lord spoke to them "personally."
One such story is about a young girl named Edith who was saved as the result of hearing what she thought was her very own name from the Bible. She was sitting in a gospel meeting one evening where the speaker had chosen his topic from Luke 15:2 which, referring to the Lord Jesus, states, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Edith's attention was immediately captured, for, instead of the word "eateth," she thought she heard "This man receiveth sinners, and 'Edith' with them." This made it very personal to her, and as the speaker unfolded the truth of the gospel, she was made to feel very keenly the fact that the Lord loved her enough to die for her and that very evening she was saved through confession of her sin to Christ and personal faith that He alone was able to cleanse her from every sin by His shed blood (1 John 1:7).
Another story is told of a man known around town as "Ol' Man Kline." Passing by a meeting hall where the gospel was to be preached, he heard the congregation singing and caught one line of a hymn in particular which he thought was "Jesus died for Ol' Man Kline." Actually what they were singing was "Jesus died for all mankind." But, this was enough to arouse his curiosity and cause him to enter that place where he heard the message of the gospel. The Spirit of God convicted him of his sin and he trusted the Lord Jesus as His personal Saviour.
Salvation need not be a "unique" experience as these two which have been related, but we should take it personally when we read in Scripture that all are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that Christ came to save sinners (Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:15).
Whether young in years as Edith, or further along the road of life as "Ol' Man Kline," you must see yourself as a sinner and in repentance turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Won't you trust Him as your own personal Saviour today? Hear the last invitation given in God's Word: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER [put your name in here] will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
—M.S.J.
www.mwtb.org
Another story is told of a man known around town as "Ol' Man Kline." Passing by a meeting hall where the gospel was to be preached, he heard the congregation singing and caught one line of a hymn in particular which he thought was "Jesus died for Ol' Man Kline." Actually what they were singing was "Jesus died for all mankind." But, this was enough to arouse his curiosity and cause him to enter that place where he heard the message of the gospel. The Spirit of God convicted him of his sin and he trusted the Lord Jesus as His personal Saviour.
Salvation need not be a "unique" experience as these two which have been related, but we should take it personally when we read in Scripture that all are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that Christ came to save sinners (Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:15).
Whether young in years as Edith, or further along the road of life as "Ol' Man Kline," you must see yourself as a sinner and in repentance turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Won't you trust Him as your own personal Saviour today? Hear the last invitation given in God's Word: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And WHOSOEVER [put your name in here] will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17).
—M.S.J.
www.mwtb.org
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
John 3:16
Original promotion aired on January 14, 2012 during the Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots NFL Playoff game.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The Gospel: have you been truly changed from above?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a call to a changed life - have you been truly changed from above?
Paul Washer & HeartCry Missionary Society: http://www.heartcrymissionary.com
Watch the full message at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0w4w4qI3s
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A Five-Word Sermon
Many years ago there was a true man of God who was the most remarkable preacher on earth. The whole country came to hear him. If such a thing occurred now, it would be considered a great revival. On one occasion, however, we are told that this very same preacher had a congregation of just two people. He preached on this day a sermon of only five words, but the effect was marvelous. Right then and there, both hearers became faithful, devoted followers of Christ.
Do you know the name of this preacher sent from God? He was none other than John the Baptist. You may read an account of his great revival preaching in Matthew 3, but let us focus instead at the short sermon to the two. “John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).
“Behold the Lamb of God.” What a living text! Without these five words, tons of volumes of theology are worthless. Here was the Son of God; and He was the Lamb of God. Behold Him. How simple, yet this is the power of God. Has this message come to your heart yet, and turned you from everything else to follow Jesus? You may have gone to confession, and you may have been baptized, and you may have done many other things, but has this blessed Person, the Lamb of God, attracted your heart to follow Him?
One of those who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He immediately becomes a preacher to the first person he meets (John 1:41). Oh, if every true follower of Jesus, the Lamb of God, would just go out and seek another person to bring to Jesus! We are all surrounded by people who for years have been seeking salvation by law-keeping, by sacraments, by works, by their church. But they are saying to themselves, “I am as far away from God as ever. I have no rest, no real peace. I cannot say I am saved. I cannot look death and judgment in the face. There are so many opinions that I am bewildered. I have so many sins: I try to forget them but it does not work. If only I could find the truth, the real way to God.”
If you have experienced the grace of God, go share the good news with a friend or family member. Simply say, “I have found the Saviour.” Tell them how you have found all that you need in Jesus, the Lamb of God. Do just as Andrew did when he brought his brother to Jesus. He is ready to receive them. Oh, beloved reader, have you come to Jesus? Do you abide with Him? Do you follow Him? Have you told others about Him? The Lord give us more of this kind of preaching.
—Charles Stanley (1821-1888), adapted
http://www.mwtb.org
Do you know the name of this preacher sent from God? He was none other than John the Baptist. You may read an account of his great revival preaching in Matthew 3, but let us focus instead at the short sermon to the two. “John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).“Behold the Lamb of God.” What a living text! Without these five words, tons of volumes of theology are worthless. Here was the Son of God; and He was the Lamb of God. Behold Him. How simple, yet this is the power of God. Has this message come to your heart yet, and turned you from everything else to follow Jesus? You may have gone to confession, and you may have been baptized, and you may have done many other things, but has this blessed Person, the Lamb of God, attracted your heart to follow Him?
One of those who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He immediately becomes a preacher to the first person he meets (John 1:41). Oh, if every true follower of Jesus, the Lamb of God, would just go out and seek another person to bring to Jesus! We are all surrounded by people who for years have been seeking salvation by law-keeping, by sacraments, by works, by their church. But they are saying to themselves, “I am as far away from God as ever. I have no rest, no real peace. I cannot say I am saved. I cannot look death and judgment in the face. There are so many opinions that I am bewildered. I have so many sins: I try to forget them but it does not work. If only I could find the truth, the real way to God.”
If you have experienced the grace of God, go share the good news with a friend or family member. Simply say, “I have found the Saviour.” Tell them how you have found all that you need in Jesus, the Lamb of God. Do just as Andrew did when he brought his brother to Jesus. He is ready to receive them. Oh, beloved reader, have you come to Jesus? Do you abide with Him? Do you follow Him? Have you told others about Him? The Lord give us more of this kind of preaching.
—Charles Stanley (1821-1888), adapted
http://www.mwtb.org
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
No One Born of God Makes a Practice of Sinning
No One Born of God Makes a Practice of Sinning ( you are Born a new)
March 9, 2008
Author: John Piper
Scripture: 1 John 3:1-10
Topic: Sin
Series: You Must Be Born Again
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Body
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. (Colossians 1:24)
In this generation the common man of the day has an extremely low view of the church.
Men know little to nothing about suffering on the behalf of the church. Pansies who call themselves men flee from churches everyday to sit in places of secret to hurl insults towards the church of the living God.
Countless are the numbers of people who sit in living rooms sipping coffee and talking about a few bible verses, praying, and talking about the errors of the local Church. These groups have no authority figure, no communion, no baptismal waters, and no accountability to hold them in check. Sadly, some of them actually call themselves a Church.
Continue reading here.
In this generation the common man of the day has an extremely low view of the church.
Men know little to nothing about suffering on the behalf of the church. Pansies who call themselves men flee from churches everyday to sit in places of secret to hurl insults towards the church of the living God.
Countless are the numbers of people who sit in living rooms sipping coffee and talking about a few bible verses, praying, and talking about the errors of the local Church. These groups have no authority figure, no communion, no baptismal waters, and no accountability to hold them in check. Sadly, some of them actually call themselves a Church.
Continue reading here.
A New Year for God or Another Year for Me?
This will take the guilt off of my life when I fail so miserably, as I am sure I would do. However, if my focus becomes more of God and less of me, my strength will be found solely in Him. I will then be able to say with Paul, whether in life or in death, I am the Lord’s. When I seek to become more focused on God, then my life will soon reflect what God has in store for me. He will direct my paths when I seek to acknowledge Him in all of my ways (Prov. 3:5-6).
Read the full post here.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
A traveler was walking along the road. He had a scythe upon his shoulder and an hourglass in his hand. He walked with measured, exact footsteps. His eyes looked straight in front, and they never moved either to the right or left, but gazed on what was beyond. I said to him,
"What is your name?"
"My name is Time."
"Where are you going?"
"I am going to eternity."
"What is the number of your years?"
He showed me an open book, and on the page just turned over was written the date of the year just begun.
Where he went I followed, but even as I went I felt I could not tell how long I should follow. I saw one person after another stop in the road, and lie down to rise no more. They were left behind, for Time paused not; his course was unstopped.
Yes, my reader, you are walking with Time on the road of life in a new year begun. But you may not go far; you may pass the buds of Spring, but never see the flowers of Summer. Or, you may watch the leaves fall from the Autumn trees, and lie beneath them in the Winter. But whether your days on earth are to be few or many, are you ready for eternity?
You may have begun this year with gray hair and other signs of old age, or you may be facing the future with youthful buoyancy. But whether you are old or young, God would have you number your days, and apply your heart to wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
To begin the year with God is more important than anything else in this world. The Bible says: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6,7).
The dawning of a new year serves to remind us that we are all marching through time, heading for eternity. Awaiting each traveler is either a glad and glorious heaven in the presence of God, or a sad and sorrowful hell, banished from God. The eternal Son of God entered into time as the man Christ Jesus to make a way for sinful man to approach God and enter into life eternal. His death, burial and resurrection have fully accomplished this objective so that Jesus now proclaims, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
To personally "seek the Lord" is to realize that Christ died for your sins, and to trust His shed blood as the full and powerful payment needed to wash your sins away. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). On the basis of Christ's atoning sacrifice, God abundantly pardons the repentant sinner and makes him a child of God forever. "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). See also Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:1,2.
But you must seek Him now, "while He may be found," while there is still time, before you pass into eternity. In view of the uncertainty of life, how important it is to "Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12), through faith in Christ as your personal Saviour! This alone will enable you to experience a truly "Happy New Year"—and look forward to a glorious eternity with absolute certainty.
—J.F.P.
http://www.mwtb.org
"My name is Time."
"Where are you going?"
"I am going to eternity."
"What is the number of your years?"
He showed me an open book, and on the page just turned over was written the date of the year just begun.
Where he went I followed, but even as I went I felt I could not tell how long I should follow. I saw one person after another stop in the road, and lie down to rise no more. They were left behind, for Time paused not; his course was unstopped.
Yes, my reader, you are walking with Time on the road of life in a new year begun. But you may not go far; you may pass the buds of Spring, but never see the flowers of Summer. Or, you may watch the leaves fall from the Autumn trees, and lie beneath them in the Winter. But whether your days on earth are to be few or many, are you ready for eternity?
You may have begun this year with gray hair and other signs of old age, or you may be facing the future with youthful buoyancy. But whether you are old or young, God would have you number your days, and apply your heart to wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
To begin the year with God is more important than anything else in this world. The Bible says: "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6,7).
The dawning of a new year serves to remind us that we are all marching through time, heading for eternity. Awaiting each traveler is either a glad and glorious heaven in the presence of God, or a sad and sorrowful hell, banished from God. The eternal Son of God entered into time as the man Christ Jesus to make a way for sinful man to approach God and enter into life eternal. His death, burial and resurrection have fully accomplished this objective so that Jesus now proclaims, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).
To personally "seek the Lord" is to realize that Christ died for your sins, and to trust His shed blood as the full and powerful payment needed to wash your sins away. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). On the basis of Christ's atoning sacrifice, God abundantly pardons the repentant sinner and makes him a child of God forever. "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). See also Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:1,2.
But you must seek Him now, "while He may be found," while there is still time, before you pass into eternity. In view of the uncertainty of life, how important it is to "Prepare to meet thy God" (Amos 4:12), through faith in Christ as your personal Saviour! This alone will enable you to experience a truly "Happy New Year"—and look forward to a glorious eternity with absolute certainty.
—J.F.P.
http://www.mwtb.org
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