Showing the state of our nation in the light of God’s Holy Word and informing Christians about the possible loss of their religious liberties from current and proposed developments within the UK and European Union.
Mark 13:37
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A Word of Warning
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Romans 8:9
Sobering and striking words! Sobering because they deal with that relationship with Christ that determines our eternal destiny. Striking because of their appearance in this eighth chapter of Romans, a chapter devoted to assuring God’s people of their standing in Christ. Why in the midst of such a comforting chapter does Paul introduce such a disconcerting statement? Because there will always be people who would take the comfort of this passage without first having taken the Christ of this passage. It is a word of warning to professing Christians.
“If any man…” It matters not your pedigree. You may come from a long line of godly people, but unless you possess the Spirit of Christ, you are none of His. Nor does a mere profession of faith make you God’s child. Paul here speaks of possessing Christ’s Spirit, not a profession of such. Walking an aisle, being baptised, or shedding tears has never saved a soul from Hell. Once more, if any man, regardless of the persuasion of others, has not the Holy Spirit, he is lost. Do not go out into eternity resting on your reputation with others!
When a sinner is born again, he receives the life of Christ, a life that makes him a “new creature.” And what are the evidences of the indwelling Spirit? Paul tells us that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (v.14). But led where? First, led to Christ. Your desires and interest will be turned from the world to the Saviour. You will be led to pray. Christ’s own have received “the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (v. 15). Lastly you will be led into obedience to Christ. Those who possess the Spirit “do mortify the deeds of the body” (v. 13) because Christ’s Spirit will gradually change them into His likeness.
Have you the Spirit of Christ? What a dreadful thing it would be to be none of His. Rest not until you have cast away all dependence upon self and cast your soul upon Christ.
Rev. John Wagner
Eagles Wings, Daily Devotional Meditations
Ah, if I am none of His, whose am I?
C. H. Spurgeon
Jews require a sign
“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.”
(1 Corinthians 1:22,23)
The mystery of the cross can be received only by faith. To the Jews it was a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, it is the power of God and the wisdom of God. When, then, we can believe that the Son of God took part of our flesh and blood out of love and compassion for our souls; that there being no other way which even heaven itself could devise, no other means that the wisdom of God could contrive whereby sinners could be saved, but by the death of the cross, then the mystery shines forth with unspeakable lustre and glory. The shame, the ignominy, what the Apostle calls the “weakness” and the “foolishness” of the cross disappear, swallowed up in a flood of surpassing grace; and faith views it as a glorious scheme of God’s own devising, and of the Son of God’s approving and accomplishing.
Viewed in this light how glorious it appears, that by suffering in our nature all the penalties of our sin, Jesus should redeem us from the lowest hell and raise us up to the highest heaven. How full of unspeakable wisdom was that plan whereby He united God and man by Himself becoming God-man; empowering poor worms of earth to soar above the skies and live for ever in the presence of Him who is a consuming fire. How glorious is that scheme whereby reconciling aliens and enemies unto His heavenly Father, He summons them, when death cuts their mortal thread, to mount up into an eternity of bliss, there to view face to face the great and glorious I AM; to be for ever enwrapped in the blaze of Deity, and ever folded in the arms of a Triune God.
It is this blessed end, this reward of the Redeemer’s sufferings, bloodshedding and death, which lifts our view beyond the depths of the fall and the misery of sin, as we see and feel it in this miserable world. It is this view by faith of the glory which shall be revealed which enables us to see what wisdom and mercy were in the heart of God when He permitted the Adam fall to take place. It is as if we could see the glory of God breaking forth through it in all the splendour of atoning blood and dying love, securing to guilty man the joys of salvation, and bring to God an eternal revenue of praise.
J. C. Philpot
Through Baca’s Vale