Hernando Presbyterian Church (ARP)
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Map Directions
  • Bulletin Information
  • Sermons Audio
  • Special Music Audio
  • Pilgrim's Progess Audio
  • Devotionals and Essays
    • ARP Evangelism Devotionals
    • Devotionals Daily
    • Don Yancey
    • George and Sally Lauderdale
    • Miles Mckee
  • Minister's Musings
    • Devotional
    • Papers
  • Hymn Poetry
    • Poetry 1
    • Poetry 2
    • Poetry 3
    • Poetry 4
  • Christian Quotes
    • Faith and Gospel
    • Forgiveness and Love and Service
    • Miscellaneous
    • Prayer and Praise
    • The Bible and The Lord Jesus Christ
  • Howard King Writings
    • The Gospel of Grace
    • Biblical Agrarianism
    • Devotional Writings
    • History/Theology
    • Satire
    • The Kingdom of God: 3 Lesson Series
    • What's Wrong with Dispensationalim? --- Audio
  • Land of Links
  • Galleries
  • What is an ARP?
  • Salvation and the Gospel
  • Hernando and Vicinity Pics
    • Arkabutla Lake
    • Cedar Hill Farm
    • Chucalissa
    • Hernando and Desoto County
    • Memphis Zoo
    • Northern Mississippi Venues
    • Tunica Riverpark
    • Western Tennessee Venues

He Made Himself the Least

2/3/2016

0 Comments

 
“Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he “
----Matthew 11:11


In my early years as a Christian, I was taught that this verse demonstrated that the weakest believer in the New Covenant was greater than John the Baptist. I was told that wee Betty Murphy, a woman who at times neither knew if she was saved or lost was greater than the final prophet of the Old Covenant. Poor little Betty didn’t know the difference between predestination and a bar of soap but, according to the prevalent theory, Betty was greater than the One who faithfully prepared the way of the Lord. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t get my head around that.  

Then one day, I believe God opened my eyes.  Who was the least in the Kingdom when this was spoken?  Think about it. The least in the Kingdom was none other than the Lord Jesus.  To this point, He had, with success, spent His earthly life making Himself the least and the last.
 
Consider this:

He made Himself the least when He was born to an unwed Jewish teenager.

 He made Himself the least when He allowed His first bed to be a feeding trough for cattle.

 He made Himself the least when He lived in obscurity for 30 years avoiding recognition.

 He made Himself the least as He worked quietly at the carpenter’s bench.

 He made Himself the least when, for that entire time, He refused to vaunt His divine attributes.

No one could have guessed that He was God in human flesh appearing for he made himself the least. As we read in Philippians; “….Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).

He made Himself the least.

Consider the absolutely stunning truth of the Incarnation.  God came here Himself!  Does this not amaze you? In Heaven, He had been enthroned in majesty and surrounded by at least 100 million worshiping angels (Revelation 5:11). Yet He made Himself the least. Thunder, lightning and voices proceed from His throne (Revelation 4:5)…yet He made Himself the least.   He was the absolute sovereign and ruler of all things…yet He made Himself the least.

As we abide in Him, we will find a growing desire to also become the least.  It should, therefore, be a foreign thing for the believer to join in conspiracies against the Pastor. How can people who see themselves as the least do that?  Likewise, it should be an alien practice for the believer to jockey for political power within the Church assembly. After all, we are called to be followers of the One who didn’t try to promote Himself but made Himself the least.

Jesus was the least, yet He was greater than John the Baptist and the Old Covenant.  He brought in better promises (Hebrews 8:6) a better hope (Hebrews 7:19), a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6) and a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23). To do this, He became the least.  He was patient, kind and without envy. He did not seek his own way and was not easily provoked.  He took the servant’s place and washed the disciple’s feet and did so because He was the least.

What Matthew 11:11 is telling us is that Jesus, not some stumbling weak saint, is greater than John the Baptist.  The New Covenant is greater than the Old. In Christ Jesus we see that the greatest became the least and has now again taken His place as the greatest of all.

And that’s the Gospel Truth!


0 Comments

Glorious Gospel Grace

1/24/2016

0 Comments

 
Salvation is entirely by grace. It is both unearned and undeserved.

We are chosen by grace (Ephesians 1:4).

We are given to Christ by grace (John 6:37).

By grace, we are made alive together with Christ, (Ephesians 2:5).

He has glorified us by grace (Ephesians 2:6).

 We are redeemed by grace (Ephesians 1:7).

 We are justified by grace (Titus 3:7).

 It’s Grace! Grace! Grace from beginning to end.
 
It is clear that in Scripture, God does not give one iota of credit to man regarding salvation. It is all of grace! Amazing Grace. Glorious Gospel Grace. The making alive, the undeserved favour, the adoption as children into God’s family is all by grace.

He made us accepted by grace (Ephesians 1:6).

We have forgiveness by grace (Ephesians 1:7).

Union with Christ and the good works that follow as God’s purpose, after salvation (Ephesians 2:10), are all the gift of God! It’s all of grace!

It’s no wonder then that Paul writes in Galatians 6:14; “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

To “glory” is “to boast.” Paul is reminding us that we cannot boast in anything except the cross of the Lord Jesus. That’s another way of saying that salvation has been accomplished by grace. All of our prosperity, all of our accomplishments, all of our doctrinal understanding, and even our accumulated insights are nothing to glory about. We can boast only in the grace of God as revealed in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

In the Old Testament, Jesus is the coming Messiah. He is the promise of grace In the New Testament, He is the realized Messiah, the true Promise of Grace apprehended.

Grace always brings us to Christ Jesus. He procured salvation for us. He Himself is our salvation. He Himself is the grace of God. Grace is embedded in His very name, for the name of Jesus, means salvation. Remember: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

Grace brings people to Christ, and to no one else.  Grace enables us to look unto Him by faith to be saved.

But what about repentance? Yes, what about it?  Is that not important? Yes, it is! But let me ask you…from where do we get repentance? The goodness of God, exhibited in His Grace, leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). There is no other way! Praise to His Name! It’s Grace, Grace, Grace, Glorious Gospel Grace!

So we can say grace is:
1) Free Grace---the gift of God (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
2) Saving Grace---it brings us to eternal salvation.
3) Sovereign Grace—not of ourselves, but by God’s sovereign will.  Salvation is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy (Romans 9:16).
 4) Sustaining Grace—We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5).

And that’s the Gospel Truth!
 
0 Comments

Gospel Fullness

1/14/2016

0 Comments

 
Scr.- Col.2:9-10.

Some commentators tell us that today’s Scripture is an allusion to the Tabernacle in the days of Moses.  It looked commonplace and ordinary on the outside, but inside it housed the very glory and presence of the Eternal God.  So it is with Christ. Little did people know that the humble carpenter from Nazareth was indeed God manifest in the flesh.  

May we all take the time to meditate on Him. The truth of Christ’s identity is as overwhelming as it is staggering! He is both human and divine. The Fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him.

Of course, Christ’s enemies say that the word ‘Godhead’ does not actually mean Godhead: or they say that this verse means that it was merely the power of God which dwelt in Christ.  However, the Bible cannot be clearer on Christ’s identity than it is in this verse.

Colossians 2:9, according to Calvin,
“ … means simply, that God is wholly found in him (Christ), so that he who is not content with Christ alone, desires something better and more excellent than God. The sum is this, that God has manifested himself to us fully and perfectly in Christ.”
---Calvin’s Commentaries: Colossians.

According to Benjamin Warfield, this verse means; “There is nothing in the God who is over all which is not in Christ.” (Easton's Bible Dictionary - Godhead)

In Isaiah 11:2-5, we are given a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus which conveys something of this fullness.  There we read, “..and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord:….”

What an astounding description of Jesus. Notice how Christ demonstrates the sevenfold Spirit of God!

The Spirit of the Lord.
The Spirit of Wisdom.
The Spirit of Understanding.
The Spirit of Counsel.
The Spirit of Might.
The Spirit of Knowledge.
The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.

The fullness of the Godhead was and is indeed manifest in Him. The foundation of our faith then is that He who died on the cross was God incarnate. When we meet Christ Jesus, we meet with God in His fullness.  This is the foundation upon which our eternal destiny is built. This is our security. The One who has lived, died and risen for us is Emmanuel, God with us. This is exceedingly good news!
 
“Mortals with joy beheld his face,
Th’ eternal Father’s only Son;
How full of truth! How full of grace!
When through his eyes the Godhead shone.”
---Isaac Watts
 
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
 
0 Comments

Gospel Trouble

12/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Have you ever noticed just how much trouble Jesus caused?  Consider Paul. He was doing very well until he was enlisted by the Nazarene. I think I can hear some of his former friends, saying, “That guy Saul really blew it!  He was one of the most privileged men in Israel till he went astray following that Jesus fellow.  What good did it do him?  Kicked out of Synagogues, whipped and beaten, stoned and left for dead!  All he got was trouble.”
 
Jesus, Himself, was always surrounded by trouble.  Even at His birth, there was trouble.  Remember how the Wise Men came looking for the newborn King and all Jerusalem was ‘troubled’ (Matt 2:3).  Now, why in the name of thunder would the birth of a baby trouble an entire city? The new King had arrived but rather than being excited or filled with rejoicing--- the citizens of Jerusalem were troubled. What a strange brew---- an entire city troubled by a baby!
 
But, why were they troubled? Maybe they were troubled because they knew that Herod wouldn’t take this news well …and ‘if the King ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!’  On the other hand, maybe they really understood that this baby was their rightful King…a King who demanded allegiance and loyalty.  A King who expected all!  Maybe they felt they would be better off with Herod and the Romans.  Whoever he was, this baby was trouble!
 
Jesus always causes trouble!  He leads us to life by means of death….that’s troubling, especially when we are so committed to our own plans, goals and ambitions.
 
Christ speaks to us in grace, looks at us in grace, thinks of us in grace and promises us gracious rest, but this grace comes wrapped in a cross that brings us to an end of our noble efforts to impress God …..that’s troubling.
 
What a strange Saviour He really is!  He comes promising peace but at the same time brings a sword (Matthew 10:34). Swords speak of trouble!  
 
But those ancient Wise Men saw nothing in Him to trouble them.  They wanted to worship Him.  They were prepared to take Him for who He was…the King and Sovereign of their existence.
 
 We will either be troubled by Him or we will worship Him. But, even when we worship Him, we will not be free from trouble.  Yet, somehow, in trouble, we learn that even in the midst of that which seems wrong, He who was born in Bethlehem is really in charge.  In the darkness of pain, we can come to a place where we can thank God for the grace of trouble!  The truth is, our only hope is to be troubled by Jesus.  We need Christ to trouble us. We need to be troubled about our self-righteousness and self-sufficiency in order that we can trust in Christ’s righteousness and sufficiency alone.
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
0 Comments

Gospel Salvation

12/10/2015

0 Comments

 
What a comforting truth to know that the Lord is the God of Salvation.  He brings salvation. With Him is salvation. But above all else, He Himself is our salvation. The gospel truth is that salvation is not a something but a someone (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 38:22).

Simeon confirmed this.  Do you remember him?  Just after the birth of Christ, we find Simeon dwelling in Jerusalem.  The Holy Spirit was upon him.  Indeed, the Holy Spirit had revealed unto him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. One day, as he came, by the Spirit, into the Temple, Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus in to fulfill the custom of the law. They met! Simeon instantly took the baby up in his arms, and blessed God, saying, ‘Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to Thy word for my eyes have seen Thy salvation.’  Salvation was declared by Simeon to be a person … …and the person was Jesus (see Luke 2:25-29).

We don’t know where Simeon was born. We don’t know who his parents were. We don’t know what Simeon did for a living. We don’t know what he looked like. We don’t know if Simeon was rich or poor. We don’t know what other people thought of him. But this we do know, Simeon had lived in the expectancy of seeing the Lord’s Messiah. And he saw Him when he held the baby Jesus.

Simeon held Jesus in his arms and recognized what millions have come to know and that is, Jesus is God’s salvation.  Jesus is salvation because He is fully God and fully man.  He is, therefore, the one who is uniquely equipped to save.  Jesus is the revelation of the One True and Living God. All that we may know about God has been spoken and demonstrated in Christ. Christ is the truth. He is the truth about God.  He is the truth about man.  He is the truth about the past.  All God’s plans and purposes were bound up in Him. He is the truth about the future. His death and resurrection were end time events.  They point to the Last Judgment and our resurrection. It is no wonder then that we are to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Furthermore, Jesus was uniquely equipped to save because He was sinless. He, Himself, is our Salvation.

Imagine the best person that you’ve ever met or known.  Imagine if they offered to pay for your sins.  We’d admire them for their unusual offer. But there’s just one problem …. God would not accept their proposal. Why not? Because that truly amazing person, with the excellent offer, is a sinner.

We are all sinners.  None of us are in a position to act as a substitute for someone else’s sin.

Jesus, on the other hand, was sinless. He was, therefore, able to become the substitute for His people. And, because He is the infinite God, He is able to pay the penalty for the sin for us. That’s why, He is our Salvation!  
'
When Simeon held Jesus in his arms and said, “… my eyes have seen your salvation,” he was saying, “Here is the one, the only one.  Here is the One who saves to the uttermost.  Here is the one who saves when no one else can.” 

We talk about God’s plan of salvation, but in truth, Jesus is God’s man of salvation.  Redemption is in Him (Romans 3:24). Only through His doing, dying and rising again is there to be discovered the free and gracious gift of eternal life.

He is our Salvation.

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

0 Comments

Gospel Acceptance

11/6/2015

0 Comments

 
There is no other basis for acceptance with God other than that which God has decreed. We are "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6)….Full Stop! Period! That means our Heavenly Father is fully satisfied with the person and work of the Lord Jesus for us. He has accepted His well-beloved Son and, therefore, accepts all who are in Christ.  The Believer has nothing more and nothing less to present to the Father but the Lord Jesus, the Christ of God.
 
Have you ever felt rejected? You say, “That’s the story of my life.” Well, the pain of that can come to end right now.  If you are suffering from the ache of rejection, look to Jesus. The Father sees every believer as being in Christ.  We are in the same Christ who was nailed to the cross. Faith looks and says, ‘I was crucified with Him.’  Faith also sees that Christ is risen.  Faith grasps that we are no longer in our sins.  Faith believes that there is now therefore no damnation to those of us in Christ Jesus. Faith sees that there is no rejection from heaven in Christ.
 
Indeed, as we grow in grace, we learn that we are not rejects. We gain confidence and identity with the Father’s verdict concerning the Son. By faith, we see that the Father’s ruling concerning Christ’s acceptable work is reckoned also to us.   If, however, we are continually looking for some quality or righteousness within us to recommend us to God, we will continue to fail and remain in the miserable turbulence of rejection.

When all is going well, and God seems to be blessing, those not rooted in the gospel feel that God must really love and accept them. But when they are stumbling, and everything seems dry and hard, then they feel that He has withdrawn His love and acceptance. But, how can this be? There was nothing about us to commend us to God in the first place. Our acceptance with the Father will always be in Christ plus nothing. We are fully accepted in the God-Man. 

Christ has purged our sin with His power.  He has bought us with His blood.  Not only is God for us, but we also have peace with Him (Romans 5:1).  Believers are not trying to obtain peace with God.  We can’t obtain that which we already have. The Father has been pleased to pour His wrath on His son instead of us.  Talk about being saved by grace!  Not only is there no condemnation for us but we are now, in the Father’s mind, in the exalted and glorified Christ.

Everything was completed at Calvary! We don’t have to feel that, we simply believe that!  Because of the doing, dying and rising again of the Lord Jesus, it is not presumptuous to claim for ourselves the titles, Heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Jesus Christ. Because of the doing, dying and rising of Christ, rejection is dead and we are accepted.

It is in the Gospel we learn that we are accepted by God, not because of our obedience but because of the obedience another (Romans 5:19).  The great mystery is how the all holy God can possibly accept us.  We are, after all, corrupted and vile sinners (Psalm 148:2; Mark 7:21-23).  The gospel, however, gives us the answer----Our acceptance is in Christ alone.

“Since I can hardly therefore bear
What in myself I see;
How vile and black must I appear,
Most holy God to Thee.
 
But since my Savior stands between,
In garments dyed in blood’
‘Tis He, instead of me, is seen,
When I approach to God.
 
Thus though a sinner I am safe;
He pleads before the throne,
His life and death in my behalf,
And calls my sins His own
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!
0 Comments

Now That's Grace!

10/8/2015

0 Comments

 
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him
(2 Corinthians 5:21).”



Why do believing sinners, who have done nothing sufficient to save themselves receive the reward of righteousness — eternal life? It is because Jesus, who did no sin, received the death penalty on their behalf!
Now that’s grace!                          

In the same way that our sin was reckoned to Christ, His righteousness was reckoned to us.
Now that’s grace!

My rags for His righteousness!
Now that’s grace!

Christ was treated as being something that He was not ….. a sinner, so that we would be treated as that which we are not…righteous.
Now that’s grace!

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
Now that’s grace!

So let us ask, at the cross did Christ become sinful in Himself? The answer is simple……No! 1000 time no! If he did become sinful in Himself, then it must also follow that we become savingly righteous within ourselves. It would also mean that the salvation which saves us is not reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4), it is within us.

But that is anti-gospel nonsense.

Our acceptance is not grounded on any quality within us, but on the worthiness and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
Now that’s grace!

The gospel concerns the doing, dying and rising again of the Lord Christ. It is not about our doing and dying nor indeed about anything in us or about anything we have done. We have been credited with His righteousness, not because we deserve it but because we need it.
Now that’s grace!

Christ, however, was treated as though He were actually sinful in Himself and because of that, we are now treated as though we are actually righteous.  His righteousness, not ours, remains our only qualification for heaven.
Now that’s grace!

But, back to the cross. Someone asks, “Were the sins placed on Jesus real sins, or was this whole drama merely an act?" If it were an act, then the righteousness that is placed on us is also a fiction.  However, the good news is that the sins placed on Christ on were real and the righteousness reckoned to us is genuine. It is "even the righteousness of God," (Romans 3:22-23) and causes us to pass from death to life.
Now that’s grace!

When sin was imputed to Jesus, His relationship with the Father was radically affected for it caused God to withdraw His presence from Him.  God cannot dwell with sin. Conversely, when Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us it radically affected our standing with God. It caused the Father to draw us into His presence and welcome us.  It brought us into a beautiful place of fellowship with the Father for He loves to have fellowship with the righteous in Christ.
Now that’s grace!

And that’s the Gospel Truth!
0 Comments

Coming in the Clouds

9/30/2015

0 Comments

 

In Revelation 1:7 we read; “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Did you know that when the Bible talks about Christ coming back in the clouds, it is a reference to His Deity?

Yes indeed, Jesus Christ is coming back! We don’t know when that future event will take place, but one day Christ is going to physically, visibly and personally return to Earth. However, interesting as it may be, the subject we want to consider today is neither the timing nor even the fact of this monumental event. What we want to briefly discuss is the mention of the word ‘clouds.'

In the Bible, clouds are often a signal of divine activity. They frequently announce the presence of God.
Consider this, Exodus 13:21; “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way;” 
 Exodus 16:10, “And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. “
Exodus 34:5 declares, “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
Numbers 10:34 “And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.”
In Psalm 104:3 we read, “The Lord makes the clouds his chariot.”
Speaking of coming judgment, Jeremiah warned, Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: Jeremiah 4:13 (see also Zephaniah 1:15).

Let’s fast forward to the New Testament to Matthew 26:64. Here Jesus is on trial for His life. Before Him stands Old Joe Caiaphas bedecked in the regalia of the High Priest. Old Joe is a jealous man, jealous of the adulation being given to the Young Prince of Glory.  Old Joe is a threatened man.  Threatened because the Lord Jesus has exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders with His ‘woe unto you’ speeches (see Matthew 23: 29-33).  Old Joe Caiaphas, has been made to squirm.  He is, after all, the Chief among the professional ecclesiastics who were, as Jesus had pointed out, merely white-washed tombs.  As he seethes with hatred, Old Joe is determined to execute the Lord Jesus. He has brought in false witnesses to testify against the Master.
Jesus, of course, could have backed down and diffused the situation.  He could have changed His story…but he didn’t.  He boldly looked his satanic rival in the eyes saying, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.”  COMING IN THE CLOUDS! It’s no wonder Caiaphas tore his clothes.  It’s no wonder he cried out, “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.”
In this dreadful scene, the High Priest of Israel rejected the Christ of Israel and consigned Him to death. Caiaphas knew that Christ, by claiming He was coming back in the clouds had put Himself on the same footing as God.  No wonder they executed Him.

And, by the way, when Jesus departed Terra Firma at the ascension, how did he leave? He left in a cloud (Acts1:9).  And how will He return? He’ll return with the clouds (Acts 1:11). He is our God and we are steadfastly looking for Him.

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

0 Comments

The Pathetic 12 Months of Mercy

9/23/2015

0 Comments

 

Recently, I was stunned when reading the present Pope’s declaration concerning his upcoming ‘Year of Mercy’. Accordingly during that period Pope Francis will give priests a special dispensation of power to forgive those who have committed the sin of abortion.

 A line from W.C. Fields sprang to my mind, “Hour of mischief, what kind of skulduggery is this?”

In his statement, the Pope expressed compassion for those who have aborted their babies. Furthermore, during the Holy Year of Mercy, he will permit priests to absolve penitent women of the sin of having had their pregnancies terminated.

How sweet of him, but who does he think he is to give permission to anyone to forgive sins?  Only God can forgive sins…and He doesn’t limit His forgiveness to a 12-month window of opportunity.

All sin is sin against God (Psalm 51:4), it’s not against Pope Francis. Thus only God, not Francis, can forgive (Mark 2:7). Yet the Pope presumes to give power to his priests to do just that.

There is only one priest who can deal with sin and his name is not Francis, His name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the God-Man. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25).

In contrast to Rome’s 12-month period of mercy, the Bible speaks of  unlimited mercy found in God. We read in Ephesians 2:4-5, for example, that God is rich in Mercy… literally He’s ‘plush’ with mercy. And what is more, mercy for those who have aborted their babies is not limited to the time frame of one year.  The throne of Grace is open to everyone who approaches by faith, at any time, for any sin regardless of the Pope’s sell by date.  In fact, Hebrews 4:16 urges us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” There is mercy for those who come to Christ.  He is the faithful High Priest, no other priest is required.

Perhaps someone who has had an abortion is reading this.  It has deeply troubled your conscience.  The guilt pierces you. You believe you are beyond forgiveness. I implore you, therefore, to look to Christ Jesus, plead guilty and throw yourself on His mercy. Your sins and iniquities He will remember no more.

May the Lord grant that you see the mercy and grace that is available to you in Christ Jesus. He is the only priest who can and will forgive sin for He alone is the God/Man!

And that’s the Gospel Truth!
 
0 Comments

The Unspeakable Christ

9/7/2015

0 Comments

 
"And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;). How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter" (2 Corinthians 12: 3-4).

I am going to attempt to do the impossible. I will in these next few lines endeavour to speak about the unspeakable One, the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul had been transported to paradise and there he heard unspeakable words. He was overwhelmed with the reality of the invisible God made visible in the Lord Jesus. I have some friends who think that the pinnacle of spirituality is to speak in tongues, but when Paul was confronted with the exalted Christ in His majestic splendour, he couldn't speak at all.

And yet there are some thrilling things which we can yet say about our Saviour for he has left his imprint and record in the scriptures. May we yet become speechless as we take time to meditate on the glory of God in the person of Christ. May we yet rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). Let's then, for a few moments, consider God's unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9: 15).

The Lord Jesus came that we who were dead in trespasses and sins might have life. He is the beginning of life. He is the source of life. He is the giver of life. He is the bread of life. He is the water of life. He is the light of life, the resurrection and the life and the way, the truth, the life. "He that believeth on him shall not perish but have everlasting life." This leaves me speechless! What about you?

Jesus is the promised seed. He is the seed who bruised the serpent's head. He is Abraham's seed in whom all the nations are blessed. He is David's seed, the Righteous Branch who reigns wisely. He is the true Israel and the elect of God. He is the new covenant and the salvation of his people. He is the rock of our salvation. This leaves me speechless. What about you?

He is the Second Man, the eternal word made flesh, the Last Adam, the Faithful and True Witness, the Almighty who was and is and is to come. This leaves me speechless! What about you?

He gives healing to the sick, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and life to the dead. He is the deliverer of those in bondage, the healer of the broken heart and the one who gives rest to the weary. This leaves me speechless! What about you?

He is the general who never lost a battle, the lawyer who never lost a case and the shepherd who never lost a sheep. He is the author and finisher of our faith. This leaves me speechless! What about you?

He is the true Temple, the altar, the offerer and the offered.

He is the slain lamb, the lamb without blemish and without spot. He is the one who, by himself, purged our sins, destroyed the devil, conquered death, rose from the grave and ascended into glory. He is our surety, our ransom, our apostle and High Priest. He is the God/Man,  the brightness of the Father's glory, the one whom angels worship. He is the crown of glory, the king of kings, the Lord of Lords, God manifest in the flesh and the fullness of the godhead bodily.

It is no wonder that the hymn writer wrote:

I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.


May we yet become more and more astonished and amazed by the Lord Jesus. May we yet become speechless in His presence.


And that is the Gospel Truth.
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Miles McKee

    Minister of the Gospel. County Wexford, Ireland.

    Archives

    January 2018
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed